Kushti Akhara: Kushti is a form of combat wrestling originated in India wherein the wrestlers practice the sport on mud and by becoming a disciple of the Akhara under a Guru who runs it. Traditionally, Akharass are places where the Pehelwans ( Those who practises wrestling ) live and train along with their Guru and learn the art of wrestling. The wrestlers consider their Akhara as a temple and their Guruji as God. Lord Hanuman, the deity of strength, is worshipped by the wrestlers, and they all practice abstinence or Brahmacharya ( celibacy ) like their deity Hanuman. Wrestling is worship to them. The wrestlers, before practicing, perform Puja ( worship ) of the practice area and dig the wrestling pit soil. Then, they seek blessings from their Guruji and only then do they start their Kushti practice. After waking up at 4 in the morning and consuming a big glass of apple juice and some almonds, wrestlers jogs for about 4 miles. Then they comes to the Akhada and digs the soil. After that, their conditioning drill starts that include rope climbing, 500 Hindu pushups, mace workout, and sparring with a partner for learning the technical part of wrestling. Here i have captured this image when the training Sessions get kicked off with elaborate warm up routines which comprise of push ups, squat and various other exercising with large wooden clubs. This image got published in many national & international magazine, exhibited in many countries.

Edition : 20/20

Collection: Editions by Shreenivas Yenni

Title : Kushti Akhara

Artist : Shreenivas Yenni

Location : Kolhapur, Maharashtra State, India

Date : 05 September 2018

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