akhadas

Akhada (plural akhadas) is a term used in South Asia to refer to two related kinds of institutions: a traditional wrestling gym and a Hindu monastic order. In the context of sport, an akhada is a training hall where kushti (pehlwani) wrestlers practice, live, and learn discipline. In the religious sense, akhadas are orders or communities of sadhus and ascetics within Hinduism, each with its own lineage, rules, and leadership. The plural form akhadas can therefore denote either multiple wrestling schools or multiple religious orders, depending on context.

In wrestling contexts, akhadas are often community-based and family-owned, found in cities and villages across India and parts of Nepal and Pakistan. Training typically includes technique, conditioning, and grappling in a clay or earth pit, along with calisthenics, rope work, and dietary regimens. They may also serve as social centers, housing trainees and instructors for extended periods.

In Hindu practice, akhadas are centers for ascetic life and religious rites. They organize sannyasis into guru-led lineages and undertake pilgrimages, ritual observances, and the management of temples and charitable activities. Akharas have historically participated in large religious gatherings such as Kumbh Mela, where they march in processions and display public vows.

Variations exist by region and tradition; some akhadas are primarily athletic institutions, others primarily spiritual orders, and some function as both. The term is also encountered in historical and cultural discussions of Indian martial and religious life.