Gatka

Understand

Where Gatka comes from

Gatka (also known as Khutka) is the martial art and stick-fighting dance associated primarily with the Sikhs of Punjab. Its development is traced to the 15th century as part of the Shastar Vidya martial-arts system of the Sikh Gurus — historically practised by the Nihangs (Sikh warrior order) and traced back to Guru Hargobind and Guru Gobind Singh, who are credited with systematising Sikh martial practice. Gatka developed as a system of fighting when outnumbered and was historically a community-defence art. In the late 20th century the form was revived as both a sport and a performance — the International Gatka Federation was founded in 1982 and formalised in 1987. Today Gatka is regularly shown at Sikh festivals and is taught in schools as both a sport and a folk-dance performance. The name derives from the Sanskrit gada ('mace') or refers to the wooden stick (gatka) used.

How it's practiced

Gatka is performed by fighters (singly or in groups) wielding the gatka — a 36-42-inch wooden stick with a leather hilt (frequently decorated with colourful Punjabi threads) — and the phari (a round leather shield about 23cm in diameter, filled with cotton for hand protection). The stick represents the sword in combat simulations. Performers execute overhead strikes, side-blocks, thrusts and circular swings in choreographed patterns that mime sword-fighting. In folk-dance performance the choreography is set to the dhol drum and may include mock-combat pairs and group formations. Costume is the traditional Sikh martial dress — the long white kurta with the vest and the steel bangle (kara), often with a coloured turban and the lamba (turban-tail).