Wrestling and akhara culture

Pit and trainer

In his 2021 Lahore essay, Ajaz Anwar remembers wrestling grounds, or akharas, outside the city walls, their earth loosened for practice. Patrons supported young wrestlers and seasonal contests. The khalifa, generally a retired wrestler in his account, watched emerging talent and encouraged new tactics. Anwar also recalls a wrestler known as Pehlwan who modelled for art students, including himself, while serving as a khalifa outside Lohari Gate. He places that modelling career across the pre-Partition years and into the 1990s. His recollection links an arena’s teaching with another part of Lahore’s working and artistic life.[1]

Teaching in named settings

Neeraj Bagga’s March 2025 report describes Jaskanwar Singh, known as Jassa Patti, learning from his wrestler father, Salwinder Singh Chhinda Patti, at Man Akhara in Khadoor Sahib, Tarn Taran. It follows his later concentration on mud wrestling. The report places apprenticeship within a personal career, rather than treating a famous wrestler as someone who emerged without teachers. Another case is Bhupinder Ajnala’s academy in his native Bholion, where he was reported to train about thirty youngsters. Teaching could become part of an established wrestler’s work as well as competing. Bagga also describes young players travelling from outside Punjab, including Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, to train under named wrestlers. These are particular learning networks centred on people and places; they do not establish how every akhara is organised or which wrestling format is superior.[2]

Public notices

Anwar remembers tongas carrying loudspeaker announcements and lithographic posters displaying principal contestants, juniors and khalifas. Publicity made trainers visible alongside competitors and carried anticipation beyond the arena itself.[1]

A different notice, Punjab University’s 2023 sports-admission schedule, listed separate men’s and women’s wrestling trials. This records an institutional selection route, without establishing present eligibility or completed participation.[3]