Nihang

A Nihang wearing a big turban

Nihang (pronounced Nee-hung) (also: called Akalis) is a very famous and prestigious armed Sikh order. Early Sikh military history is dominated by the Akali Sikh military order particularly for many famous military victories won while often heavily out-numbered. The Akalis have historically been held in great affection and respect by Sikhs due the pivotal role they have played in Sikh history and Sikh military history in particular. It currently is mostly ceremonial due it being peace time but in times of war for the Sikh religion the Akalis have historically spear-headed the attack on the enemy.

Etymology

"Nihang" is a Persian word meaning Crocodile. The invading Mughals said they fought ferociously like crocodiles that is where the term comes from.^[1]

The Nihangs were also known as Akalis. The term "Akali" is said to be derived from the Sanskrit Akal Purusha (Akal Purukh in Punjabi) - "the Timeless One", a term for God. Thus 'Akali' translates as "Servitor of the Timeless God".^[2].

The Nihang attire

The Nihangs differ essentially from all other Sikh orders in being a militaristic organisation. The Nihangs wear chequered dresses of a particular shade of blue known as "electric-blue".^[3], bangles or bracelets of steel round their wrists (Kara), and quoits of steel (Chakra) in their lofty conical blue turbans, together with daggers, knives and swords of varying sizes (Kirpan), and an iron chain.

Banda Bahadur, the famous disciple of Guru Gobind Singh and Sikh warrior-general went from being a Hindu to a Sikh and adapted to wearing this attire.

The Nihangs/Akalis in Sikh history

File:Gatka1.jpg

Gatka during Hola Mohalla festivities

Phula Singh

The career of the Akali, Phula Singh illustrates both their defects and their abilities. Phula Singh first came into notice as the leader who led the attack on Thomas Metcalfe's escort at Amritsar in 1809. He was then employed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, as a leader in the Indus valley. Finally, Phula Singh and his Akalis contributed to, or rather virtually won for Ranjit Singh, the great Sikh victory over the Yusafzai Pashtuns at Teri in 1823. In this battle, Phula Singh met with a heroic death, and his tomb at Nowshera is now an object of pilgrimage to Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs alike.

Under Phula Singh's leadership, and perhaps before his rise, the Akalis had become a terror to friends and foes alike, and the Sikh chiefs, from whom they often levied taxes (Raakhi), dreaded them by force. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was highly pleased by the battles the Nihangs would win.

It is widely known that Ranjit Singh respected him greatly. He was unafraid of the emperor and punished him for disrespecting a Nauch girl. The emperior dared not disobey Phula Singh and had to pay Tankhah (Punishment) after his guilt was proved.

Non-Nihang Sikhs and the dress of the nihangs

Many non-nihang Sikhs will often also wear the same dress of the Nihangs. Unlike the nihangs however, they will usually only wear it at ceremonies or to the Gurdwara the Sikhs place of worship, whereas Nihangs would wear the blue dress all the time. This trend of wearing the Nihang dress is mainly prevalent in Sikhs belonging either to the Akhand Kirtani Jatha or the Damdami Taksal

Nihangs/Akalis today

[[Nihang horsemen at the Hola Mohalla festival]]

The Akali headquarters was the Akal Bunga at Amritsar, where they assumed the lead in directing religious ceremonies and convoking the Gurmat; indeed, they laid claim to exercise a general leadership of the whole Sikh community. Since Ranjit Singh's time Anandpur has been their real headquarters, but their influence is still being felt in the world today.

Today, Nihangs foregather in their hundreds at Anandpur, on the occasion of the festival of Hola Mohalla and display their martial skills. This tradition has been in place since the time of Guru Gobind Singh.

Notes

^ Singh, Khushwant (1999). A History of the Sikhs Volume I:1469-1839. India: Oxford University Press. p. 215. ISBN 0-19-562643-5.
^ Singh, Khushwant (1999). A History of the Sikhs Volume I:1469-1839. India: Oxford University Press. p. 215. ISBN 0-19-562643-5.
^ Collins, Larry (1997). Freedom at Midnight. India: Vikas Publishing House Pvt. Ltd. p. 393. ISBN 81-259-0480-8. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)