Mysuru Pailwans show Pailwangiri

After a span of 2 years, mud wrestlers get an opportunity to showcase their grit.

Shilpa P | NT

Mysuru: While Mysuru is still a major hub for Kusthi (mud-clay wrestling) which was patronised by Maharaja’s of Mysuru, and still nourished by at least 30 Pailwans (senior wrestlers), the pailwans of Mysuru missed performing in a public platform for the past two years due to Covid 19. But Wednesday was a big day for these pailwans as over 160 boys from the district got an opportunity to perform in a show hosted by ‘Bharathiya Shaili Kusthi Sangha of Mysuru’ at the valedictory of ‘Kreeda Sapthaha’ of Kreeda Bharathi event hosted by the department of sports and youth empowerment held at D Devraj Urs stadium here at Karnataka exhibition authority premises.

Speaking to News Trail, Amruth Purohith, a wrestling (Kusthi) coach and working president of Bharathiya Shaili Kusthi Sangha (Indian style wrestling association) of Mysuru and secretary of Kreeda Bharathi, said that royal family of Mysuru nourished Kusthi. And even today there are two major stadiums (Akhaada), and 25 Kusthi Garadi houses (wrestling training centres) in Mysuru which are training over 600 students. In each Garadi mane, at least 25 to 30 students are practicing. Even during covid, ive students practiced at a time, in di erent batches. But they missed performing in public platforms as they were not held due to covid.

Dasara kusthi which is famous, was also not held during the past two years. But on Wednesday over 80 pairs of Pailwans got the opportunity to perform at the show from 3.30 to 7 pm at D Devraj Urs stadium, and our fraternity was elated, he said.

Usually, erstwhile scion of the royal family of Mysuru, witnesses customary “Jatti Kalaga or Vajramushti kalaga” (wrestling) at Savar thotti in Mysuru Palace premises before taking up “Vijaya yathre” (a small procession from Mysuru Palace to Bhuvaneshwari temple at palace premises) on the tenth day of Dasara on Vijayadashami day within palace premises. Even that customary “Jatti Kalaga” was canceled in the past two years. So this event came as a happy moment amid pandemic for Mysureans.