Just south of Kolkata’s iconic Howra Bridge is one of the city’s remaining akharas, Siyaram Akhara Bayam Samity, where the centuries-old Indian sport of Kushti wrestling is practised. Led by guru Jwala Tiwari (below right), the young wrestlers come just before dawn to take part in a series of physically demanding exercises before pairing off in individual matches. I arrived just as they were finishing their morning prayers to photograph them in action.
Update: Gurua Jwala Tiwari passed away on 1 January 2023, age 65.
Details of his life are here.
শান্তিতে ঘুমাও Shāntite Ghumāo.
