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India

Oct 23 2021

Garadi Mane of Bangalore

Garadi Mane

While more people outside of India are becoming familiar with the akharas of Varanasi, the garadi mane of Bangalore are less well known.

Bangalore is one of the fastest growing cities in India, The technological revolution has taken it from a series of villages to an urban hub. Hidden among the sprawl are a series of old temples of strength and wrestling: the garadi mane.

While there are several garadi in Karnataka state, the densest cluster of them are in the major city. Over the past few years, a number of them have met the fate of many other traditional exercise venues at the hands of developers. These tiny wrestling schools take up valuable real estate.

Fortunately, there are is a small, but dedicated band of wrestlers who keep the flame lit and the doors open. They are all young, but determined to maintain the tradition and allow the garadi mane to survive in this era that holds no value for old things.

The surviving and thriving places are Kunjanna Garadi Mane, Ganapatimaruthi Vyayam Shale, Kondandarama Garadi and Kempegowdanagar Garadi Mane. They all have a similar set up, with the mitti (earth) wrestling pit piled high on one side of the space. The stone floor of the other side has exercise tools like the sambrani kallu (gar nāl), raggi kallu (nāl), gadda (mugdar), mallakhamb, dambals and kallu gundu (stone balls).

One of the unique things about the southern style, is that the digging of the mitti is focussed on. Before wrestling it has to be levelled as usual, but then after, it must be piled up again in digging motion that throws the mitti behind the wrestler. The pharsa (hoes) are particularly heavy and this exercise is certainly the hardest part of the routine.

The fate of these ancient places of strength is in the hands of the young men who remain dedicated to the garadi mane.

Written by waryoga · Categorized: Blog · Tagged: India

Mar 02 2021

Nag Panchami 2019

Nag Panchami

Back in 2019, a small, dedicated group went to Varanasi in India to train in the Akharas and explore the holy city during the Nag Panchami Cobra Festival that is sacred to the wrestlers.

Nag Panchami

Nag Panchami, or the Cobra Festival, is usually at the beginning of August and was originally a fertility festival involving the iconic serpents. While the snakes are still a part of festivities, the focus fell on wrestling and other strength disciplines over the years, likely due to the symbolic virility of wrestlers. The day and the lead up to it is marked with various competitions such as Jori swinging, Gada Swinging and wrestling. The Akharas are cleaned and everything is repainted in preparation for the festival, making it an exciting time to visit Varanasi if you are interested in Kushti and Vyayam.

The Group, hosted by Pratyay Singh, included Tom Billinge, William Calvani and Paul Wolkowinski, a man known for popularising the Gada in the West, as well as being at the forefront of the resurgence of Indian Clubs. Documentary filmmaker Michael Dean also accompanied the group and shot a short film about the journey with a focus on Paul, who is a wealth of knowledge. Paul’s website Indian Clubs (and how to swing them) is a goldmine for anyone looking to dive deeper into the swinging arts.

Anyone who is interested in WarYoga and wants to make a deeper connection to their practice would do well to visit Varanasi and its ancient Akharas.

Written by waryoga · Categorized: Blog · Tagged: India

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