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Pehelwan rising from the soil (2012-2018)
In the heart of rural Maharashtra, particularly within the historic talims (training centers) and akharas of Kolhapur, Kushti (traditional mud wrestling) is far more than a sport—it is a sacred way of life and a profound source of cultural identity. The pehelwans (wrestlers), mostly hailing from farming families, undergo a grueling regime of monastic discipline, waking up before dawn to grind in red soil (mattha) mixed with buttermilk and oil.
For a rural family, sending a son to a Kolhapur akhara is a matter of immense collective pride and sacrifice. In a agrarian community where financial resources can be tight, families gladly fund the heavy, nutrient-rich diets of their boys—laden with milk, almonds, and ghee—viewing it as an investment in the family's honor.