Paul Harrison, Kushti wrestlers of Varanasi (DOCO 2021)

Kushti wrestling was brought to India by the Murghals in the 16th century and is a mix of the older Indian form called malla-yuddha and the Persian form called koshti pahlevani. For the devout practitioners, the training, diet and lifestyle of the Akhad (wrestling academy) is strict and is viewed almost like a religious calling. Upper body strength is developed using ancient devices such as the mugdar (heavy clubs) and the gada (a heavy stone on a metre long bamboo pole). Before each match, the wrestlers cover themselves and their opponents with a few handfuls of earth from the ring, which acts as a blessing. I was fortunate to be able to spend a morning photographing these Kushti wrestlers in Varanasi, India early in 2020.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.