Form of Nihang Singhs - Panth Prakash
Before Kapoor Singh received the title of Navab from the Delhi Throne, the King on the throne was given intel regarding the Singhs from Zakhriya Khan of Lahore in 1733. After reading intel he had the court actors to dress up and take the form of the Singhs, acting out their habits. The passage below describes the Singhs, and their Nihang attire, before the official formation of the Budha Dal.
ਮਿਲ ਬਹੁ ਭਾਂਡਨ ਰਚੀਆ ਨਕਲਾਂ । ਲਗੇ ਸਜਨ ਤਬਿ ਸਿੰਘਨ ਸ਼ਕਲਾਂ । ਕੇਤਿਕ ਰਚੀਆ ਨੀਲ ਨਿਹੰਗਾਂ । ਕੇਤਿਕ ਸਜੀਆ ਸ੍ਵੇਤ ਭੁਜੰਗਾਂ ।੬੭।
The actors all got together to perform this drama, they began dressing like the Singhs. Some dressed themselves in blue as Nihangs, others dressed themselves as white Bhujangis [elite warriors].
ਛੁਟੇ ਦੁਮਾਲੇ ਯਾ ਬਿਧਿ ਝੂਲੈਂ । ਮਨੋ ਲੰਗੂਲ ਸੁ ਕੇਹਰ ਤੁਲੈਂ । ਕਮਰ ਕਛਹਿਰੇ ਪਹਿਰੇ ਪਾਟੇ । ਲਟਕਤ ਮਨੋ ਸੁ ਕੇਹਰ ਸਾਂਟੇ ।੯੦।
From their Dumallas they had a Farla waving, appearing like the tail of a tiger [rising above the tiger's head]. Across their waist they wear a ripped [as the Singhs were poor] Kachera, appearing as if this white band was the hair around a tiger's neck.
ਭੂਰੇ ਚਾਦਰ ਫਾਟੇ ਬਸਤਰ । ਟੂਟੇ ਫੂਟੇ ਜਰਖਲ ਸ਼ਸਤ੍ਰ । ਸਿਰ ਪਰ ਚੱਕਰ ਖੰਡੇ ਤੋੜੇ । ਸਜੇ ਨ ਔਰੇਂ ਸ਼ਸਤ੍ਰ ਥੋੜੇ ।
Wearing a brownish torn shawl, [holding] rusted and broken weapons. Upon their head a Chakar [quoit] with a Khanda and iron chain, strapped, they are not lacking weapons at all.
ਇਕ ਇਕ ਚੁਕਯੋ ਮਣ ਮਣ ਲੋਹਾ । ਪਹੁੰਚੇ ਸ਼ਾਹਿ ਨਜੀਕ ਸਰੋਹਾ । ਫਤੇ ਅਕਾਲ ਅਕਾਲ ਗਜਾਈ । ਧੂਮ ਕਚਹਿਰੀ ਵੀਚ ਮਚਾਈ ।੯੨।
Each individual is equipped with roughly 80 lbs of iron, arriving toward the King properly enraged, they roar the Victory call of 'Akaal' ! 'Akaal'! Within the court they created a great commotion.
Naveen Panth Prakash, author: Gyani Gyan Singh (1880)
Utarradh Bisram 26.