Sword war of Nihangs' captured in slow motion, in Raipur

From the archive record

Nihang today are accorded great respect and affection by sections of the Sikh community, but their Hindu-influenced beliefs and unorthodox practices (such as meat and alcohol consumption) are seen as blasphemous and heretical by some. While the order is primarily ceremonial, they are duty-bound to defend their people and faith in times of war. On the festival of Hola Mohalla, Nihang gather in their thousands at Anandpur where they display their martial skills. Their fighting style, although formally called shastara vidiya, is more commonly known as gatka. In 2011, Nidar Singh claimed to be the only living master of pre-gatka shastara vidiya.This has gained him considerable backlash from the Nihang community, including excommunication from their order. The Nihang are an armed Sikh order. Th