Kushti Wrestlers

Kushti is an ancient form of wrestling popular in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Kushti is not just a sport and an art, it is an ancient subculture. Wrestlers live and train together and have strict rules.  Akhara are the sites where the wrestlers train and practice their wrestling in the mud arenas called Kushti. Nowadays there are not so many people practicing kushti in the traditional way, i.e. directly on mud floors. 

 Most Akharas are associated with a guru, called Palawan. This venerated teacher is considered a holy man and trains the wrestlers.

A moment before the training in one of the Akhara of Varanasi.

 The mud where the wrestler fight is wet and plowed before every training

The prayers before the training.

The Guruji /Pahelwan make a Puja ( offert) to the Saints.

Most Akharas are associated with a guru, called a Palawan. This venerated teacher is considered a holy man who trains the wrestlers.

Before the real fight it s very important for the wrestler to prepare their body and in particular their joints

3 couples of wrestlers are fighting at the same time under the supervision of the 2 Guruji (masters)

Kushti wrestling it may seem like a trivial sport, but in reality it is very technical and complex