Hundreds witness a nearly extinct Vajra Mushti Kalaga
Wrestlers, with their heads shaved and equipped with spiked knuckledusters, engage in combat
Mysuru: Vajra Mushti Kalaga, a nearly extinct form of traditional wrestling, sprang back to life during the Vijayadashami celebrations at Mysore Palace yesterday. The duels featured Balarama Jatti from Mysuru against Narayana Jatti from Bengaluru and Raghavendra Jatti from Channapatna against Srinivasa Jatti from Chamarajanagar.
Wrestlers, with their heads shaved and equipped with spiked knuckledusters made of metal and ivory, engage in combat. These sacred knuckledusters, owned by the royal family, are first blessed with a puja before being handed to the fighters.
Using one arm to deflect blows, each wrestler aims to land a strike on their opponent’s shaven head with the knuckleduster-bearing hand. The bout ends as soon as blood is drawn.
While Vajra Mushti Kalaga is no longer a serious combat sport, it remains a symbolic display of the region’s martial traditions during events like Dasara. The Jattis practice at the Akhada for over 45 days leading up to the festival, and the referees ensure that no serious injuries occur during the brief contest. The match, often lasting just a few seconds, concludes as soon as blood is drawn from one of the combatants.
0 comments