Kushti is a form of combat wrestling that 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, Akhara’s are places where the Pehelwans (Those who practice wrestling) live and train along with their Guru and learn the art of wrestling.

Kushti isn't just a sport — it's an ancient subculture where wrestlers live and train together and follow strict rules on everything from what they can eat to what they can do in their spare time. The focus is on living a pure life, building strength, and honing their wrestling skills.

The wrestlers consider their Akhara as a temple and their Guruji as God. Lord Hanuman, the deity of strength, is worshiped by the wrestlers, and they all practice abstinence or Brahmacharya (celibacy) like their deity Hanuman. Wrestling is worship to them.

Every wrestler has to wear Langot, a type of attire consisting of a loincloth or underwear which is usually worn by the Indian mud wrestler before entering the Akhara. Kushti is practiced on a training ground which is usually made of mud, and clay mixed with oil and ground turmeric. Water is added every few days to keep it at the right consistency; soft enough to avoid injury but hard enough so as not to impede the wrestlers' movements.

The wrestlers 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 jog for about 4 miles. Then they come to the Akhara and dig the soil. After that, their conditioning drill starts which includes rope climbing, 500 Hindu pushups, a 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 comprising pushups, squats, and various other exercises with large wooden clubs.

From 4 AM to 9 AM, they work out in the morning. They take a break until 4 in the afternoon, and in the following next two hours, the skirmishes in the arena start up again. At the end of the day, wrestlers rest against the walls of the arena covering their heads and bodies with earth to soak up any perspiration and avoid catching colds. This relaxation ceremony is completed with massages to soothe tired muscles and demonstrate mutual respect. These massages, which require close contact between the men, create an atmosphere of social unity. Finally, a cold shower outside, with a simple hose or bucket over the head, signals that training is over.

Dietary rules are very specific; they will have lots of almonds, milk, ghee, and chapatis (traditional bread). Younger boys (from 7 to 8 years old), recruits, and novices handle all the peripheral services necessary for the smooth running of the akhara. Living together promotes camaraderie, solidarity, and fraternity in this specific universe where time stands still.

This Traditional Wrestling aims to awaken a heightened sense of self. Participants exert themselves physically but also on a moral, spiritual and social level. From the moment they enter the akhara, a sacred space, strip down and coat their bodies with clay, they all become equal. Here, there are no castes; wrestlers of all ages and professions cohabitate. The hierarchy here is built solely on strength and capabilities. Yet physical strength is not the goal—rather a means to control muscles as well as the soul.

The main focus of Kushti is on living a pure life, building strength, and honing their wrestling skills.

In this photographic journey, I have documented the passion for wrestling I witnessed in the taleems of Kolhapur.