। अलिबाग । वार्ताहर ।
अलिबाग तालुक्यातील खंडाळे ग्रामस्थांच्या वतीने सालाबादप्रमाणे नागपंचमीनिमित्त कुस्ती स्पर्धेचे मंगळवार, दि. 2 ऑगस्ट रोजी आयोजन करण्यात आले आहे. ही स्पर्धा महावीर देवस्थान, खंडाळा ग्रामपंचायतीच्या परिसरात दुपारी ठिक दोन वाजता सुरू होणार आहे.
कोरोना महामारीमुळे मागील दोन वर्षे या ही स्पर्धा घेण्यात आली नव्हती. यंदा निर्बंधमुक्त वातावरण असल्यामुळे कुस्ती स्पर्धेचे आयोजन करण्यात आले आहे. या स्पर्धा खंडाळा हद्दीतील गावांसाठी मर्यादित असल्याचे उपसरपंच अशोक थळे यांनी यावेळी सांगितले. तरी, कुस्तीप्रेमींनी या स्पर्धेसाठी मोठ्या संख्येने उपस्थित राहावे, असे आवाहन श्री. थळे यांनी केले आहे.
खंडाळे येथे कुस्ती स्पर्धेचे आयोजन
KOLHAPUR, INDIA - MARCH 22: Indian men practice the three thousand year old sport known as "Kushti", a form of wrestling, in its traditional form at the fight club Shahupuri in Kolhapur, India. In this south-eastern Indian city Kushti has a long tradition. It used to be supported by local maharajas and is financed by the government. But its days are numbered. Last year, the Indian Fighters Federation in the capital of New Delhi stunned thousands of fighters when it announced prohibition of fighting on red soil and ordered fight clubs to buy mattresses for their arenas. Ending the traditional red clay wrestling was an idea sprouted from the aspiration to achieve more Olympic medals since the last and only medal India brought home in wrestling was a bronze in 1952. So far no one here in Kolhapur is buying the mattresses and instead they continue the rigorous schedule of waking up at 3:30am six times a week and practicing more than 6 hours every day. They live together in one small room above the arena and their only belongings are a blanket, a few items of clothes and some books about the art of Kushti. They have been compared to holy men because of their celibacy and dedication and they practice exercises like standing on one's head for lengths of time to expel "filthy" thoughts. (Photo by Ami Vitale)