VARANASI: Clad in body-hugging lowers and sporty tees, Nandini Sarkar and Aastha Verma accumulate a fistful of mud at the Tulsidas akhara at the Ganga banks right here, rub it on their foreheads and let loose a fullthroated cry of "Jai Shri Ram".That chant has simply shattered a 450-year-old glass ceiling at this medieval wrestling ring.
In a significant break from tradition, the akhara that is managed by means of the Sankat Mochan temple consider has permitted ladies to practise and combat at its hallowed mud pit, dedicated to the bachelor god, Hanuman.
It took the 2 feisty 20-yearold ladies, who are nonetheless pursuing their bachelor courses, almost a decade to convince the consider's mahant to be allowed to practice and spar at the akhara. Aptly, their freedom to enter the mud pit came on August 15 this year, which coincided with the Nagpanchami pageant.
The akhara will now hang fights that includes girls from Diwali. "The training of tradi tional wrestlers remains incomplete till they touch the mud of an akhara. We have finally achieved that dream," says Nandini. "Our coaches, Surendra Yadav and Gorakhnath Yadav, approached the mahant this year and convinced him that if the country can have a Prime Minister representing Varanasi for the first time, why can't women achieve a first of their own?" she said. Of direction, getting the permission was once some distance from simple. "We were shown texts on Hanuman's vow of bachelorhood and told that girls are impure and their presence is a sin for the god. But it's the same god who gave us the strength to fight," Nandini reasoned.
The mahant of Sankant Mochan, Vishwambar Nath Mishra, too, believes the decision will pass lengthy method to empower girls right here. "People are surprised when they learn that I am a professor at IIT as well as the mahant of this temple. I believe I can contribute to society in both ways. So why not take a decision that's in keeping with gender equality and restores the faith of people in the divine?" said mahant Mishra, who teaches electronics at IIT BHU.
Both ladies have represented UP in wrestling. Even as they are attempting out traditional practice equipment at the akhara, reminiscent of bhala and gadha, for the primary time, the girls have already mastered their favourite manoeuvres by means of staring at the lads right here for the past 10 years. For Nandini, its dhobi paat (shoulder throw) while Aastha swears by means of kalajang (squat punch).
The ladies come from humble backgrounds. Nandini's father sells sweets to pilgrims at Assi Ghat, incomes round Rs 7,000 a month. Aastha's father is not more. Her mother Madhu Verma sells plants at the stairs of Kedar Ghat to enhance her daughter's wrestling dreams.
"We derive our strength and determination from our parents who keep the faith of devotees alive by providing them accessories to complete their pooja. That's why God was kind to us," says Aastha.
However, the girls' struggles are some distance from over. With their modest manner, it's getting an increasing number of difficult for to have enough money a protein rich nutrition and top-notch training to growth in the game. To enhance their needs, the girls continuously shuttle so far as Patna, Madehpura and Begusarai in Bihar for dangal contests.Each match earns them Rs 2,500.
"Ghee, milk, almonds, protein and personal gym costs us Rs 15,000 a month. Sometimes we can afford it. When we can't, we just hop on to a night train and reach Bihar. It takes one day to reach the venue, two days to play and another day to return to Varanasi," says Aastha. Being girls wrestlers in a patriarchal society is tough. The ladies have many horror tales on their wrestling visits to Bihar. "There are times when men would try to pat us just to feel us. We usually answer such touches with a punch and tackle," said Nandini, laughing.
In a significant break from tradition, the akhara that is managed by means of the Sankat Mochan temple consider has permitted ladies to practise and combat at its hallowed mud pit, dedicated to the bachelor god, Hanuman.
It took the 2 feisty 20-yearold ladies, who are nonetheless pursuing their bachelor courses, almost a decade to convince the consider's mahant to be allowed to practice and spar at the akhara. Aptly, their freedom to enter the mud pit came on August 15 this year, which coincided with the Nagpanchami pageant.
The akhara will now hang fights that includes girls from Diwali. "The training of tradi tional wrestlers remains incomplete till they touch the mud of an akhara. We have finally achieved that dream," says Nandini. "Our coaches, Surendra Yadav and Gorakhnath Yadav, approached the mahant this year and convinced him that if the country can have a Prime Minister representing Varanasi for the first time, why can't women achieve a first of their own?" she said. Of direction, getting the permission was once some distance from simple. "We were shown texts on Hanuman's vow of bachelorhood and told that girls are impure and their presence is a sin for the god. But it's the same god who gave us the strength to fight," Nandini reasoned.
The mahant of Sankant Mochan, Vishwambar Nath Mishra, too, believes the decision will pass lengthy method to empower girls right here. "People are surprised when they learn that I am a professor at IIT as well as the mahant of this temple. I believe I can contribute to society in both ways. So why not take a decision that's in keeping with gender equality and restores the faith of people in the divine?" said mahant Mishra, who teaches electronics at IIT BHU.
Both ladies have represented UP in wrestling. Even as they are attempting out traditional practice equipment at the akhara, reminiscent of bhala and gadha, for the primary time, the girls have already mastered their favourite manoeuvres by means of staring at the lads right here for the past 10 years. For Nandini, its dhobi paat (shoulder throw) while Aastha swears by means of kalajang (squat punch).
The ladies come from humble backgrounds. Nandini's father sells sweets to pilgrims at Assi Ghat, incomes round Rs 7,000 a month. Aastha's father is not more. Her mother Madhu Verma sells plants at the stairs of Kedar Ghat to enhance her daughter's wrestling dreams.
"We derive our strength and determination from our parents who keep the faith of devotees alive by providing them accessories to complete their pooja. That's why God was kind to us," says Aastha.
However, the girls' struggles are some distance from over. With their modest manner, it's getting an increasing number of difficult for to have enough money a protein rich nutrition and top-notch training to growth in the game. To enhance their needs, the girls continuously shuttle so far as Patna, Madehpura and Begusarai in Bihar for dangal contests.Each match earns them Rs 2,500.
"Ghee, milk, almonds, protein and personal gym costs us Rs 15,000 a month. Sometimes we can afford it. When we can't, we just hop on to a night train and reach Bihar. It takes one day to reach the venue, two days to play and another day to return to Varanasi," says Aastha. Being girls wrestlers in a patriarchal society is tough. The ladies have many horror tales on their wrestling visits to Bihar. "There are times when men would try to pat us just to feel us. We usually answer such touches with a punch and tackle," said Nandini, laughing.
Varanasi akhara breaks its 450-yr tradition, lets girls in
![Varanasi akhara breaks its 450-yr tradition, lets girls in]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
October 22, 2017
Rating:
