In the streets of Anandpur Sahib or at the great gatherings of Hola Mohalla, a striking sight commands attention: tall men in deep blue robes, their turbans towering high, often crowned with steel quoits (chakrams) and glinting weapons. These are the Nihangs, the warrior order of the Sikhs—living guardians of a martial tradition that has endured for over three centuries.

Their story begins with Guru Gobind Singh, who in 1699 created the Khalsa, the brotherhood of saint-soldiers, to defend faith and freedom in a time of relentless persecution. The Nihangs became the fiercest embodiment of that spirit. Their very name, thought to mean “crocodile,” suggests ferocity, fearlessness, and strength.

The Nihang presence is unmistakable. Clad in deep azure robes, they carry swords, spears, and shields, while their tall conical turbans are bound with miniature blades and steel rings. They move with a quiet authority, at once ascetic and martial.

Central to their tradition is their mastery of martial arts, especially gatka, a dynamic Sikh fighting system of sword, staff, and shield. Their training is as much spiritual discipline as physical skill, combining prayer, rhythm, and combat in seamless flow. Alongside this, their bond with horses is legendary. Nihangs are renowned horsemen, their steeds treated almost as extensions of themselves—companions in both battle and ceremony. Even today, their equestrian displays, mounted charges, and skilled maneuvers remain a highlight of Hola Mohalla, echoing the cavalry traditions of their ancestors.

Yet theirs is not only a life of combat. Nihangs live communally, sustaining themselves with simple food from shared cauldrons and preparing shaheedi degh, a cannabis-based drink believed to fortify body and spirit.

To see the Nihangs is to glimpse a living page of history: warriors, horsemen, and mystics who carry the memory of the Khalsa forward—unyielding, radiant in blue, and bound to both prayer and the sword.