about akharas

Akhara or Akhada is an Indian word for a place of practice with facilities for boarding, lodging and training of pehlwans. Though it stands for both a ring for wrestling and a ring for debate of ideas. In wrestling the akhara acts in transformation of a man into a wrestler / warrior and it takes place under the apprenticeship of a kusti ka guru or kushti master.

An Akhada promotes an almost military-like discipline towards one’s craft and instils a sense of camaraderie between all the pehlwans training at the Akhada.

The soil or “mitti” in the akhada is held in the highest regard by all Pehlwans. This Mud Pit is specially prepared with mainly red soil, ghee and milk for Kushti.