kusti

Kusti, also spelled kushti or kusti, is the traditional form of Indian wrestling practiced in the Indian subcontinent. It is usually trained in an akhara, a wrestling school or gym, and the matches are called dangal. The style is closely related to the pehlwani tradition and includes elements of clinching, throws, pins, and submissions.

Historically, kushti traces back to malla-yuddha, an ancient Indian system of wrestling described in early scriptures and epics. Over centuries it absorbed Persian and Central Asian influences, culminating in what is now known as pehlwani in the 18th–19th centuries. It remains popular in rural India and Pakistan, especially in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and surrounding regions.

Training takes place in an akhara and emphasizes strength, endurance, balance, and technique. Wrestlers train on a dirt or clay floor, using bodyweight exercises, partner drills, and often dietary regimens intended to increase mass. Adherence to a strict routine, discipline, and mentorship by a senior pehlwan are typical. Wrestlers wear a langoti (loincloth) and sometimes a belt; the sport emphasizes fair play and sportsmanship as well as respect for instructors and peers.

Notable figures include The Great Gama (Gama Pehlwan), one of the most famous kushti wrestlers of the 20th century. In contemporary times, the sport remains practiced in traditional akharas and has also gained attention through competitive events called dangals, both in rural settings and urban centers, where professional wrestlers compete for prestige and prize money.