Prayagraj: The dying art of dangal ( wrestling competitions) has left city-based vyayamshala (wrestling camps) organisers worried. Both men and women wrestlers are least interested in traditional ‘ Kushti ’ and prefer health and fitness clubs to shape their bodies. With a handful of wrestlers practising for local dangal competitions to be held on the occasion of the upcoming festival of Naag Panchmi on August 9, the thin attendance of men and women wrestlers has dampened the spirit of organisers in the city.
Dangal matches are organised during the month of Shrawan and especially on Nag Panchami in the region. General secretary of the city’s oldest Loknath Vyayamshala, Ram Ji Kesarwani who also runs a fitness club in the Loknath area, said, “There are currently three vyayamshala operating in the city including Loknath, Daraganj and Jhunsi with a handful of men and women wrestlers practising traditional wrestling (popularly known as Kushti. The city witnessed the downfall of vyayamshala after 1980 when youths started switching over to fitness and health clubs for bodybuilding.
” He, however, claimed, “Before 1980, there were more than 100 vyayamshala operating across the district and Kushti was one of the favourite games among citizens.” Kesarwani, meanwhile, asserted that “The cost of diet for wrestlers, particularly those hailing from a rural background, was the prime cause among budding wrestlers refraining from traditional wrestling grounds.” More youths started switching to professional gyms and fitness centres to shape their bodies as they were least interested in Kushti like championship.
He also claimed that the majority of people don’t know about the benefits of vyayamshala. Another old-timer said, “Till 1900, wrestlers were keen to attend traditional akharas for competitions like Kushti in large numbers. The strength of local wrestlers has now declined drastically and very few aspirants come to learn wrestling skills now.
” The craze for fitness clubs and state-of-the-art gymnasiums has increased so much that youngsters are shy to visit traditional akharas and visit fitness clubs instead. However, in rural pockets of trans Ganga and trans Yamuna, the craze for Kushti is still alive. Atul Kumar, a local wrestler, says, “With the changing scenario, only a few people look forward to traditional wrestling.
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