Vajra mushti kalaga

• Vajra mushti kalaga is on the decline and takes place only during Dasara.
• The ‘’vajra mushti kalaga’’ is a form of wrestling different from the conventional grappling and entails two jettys taking a swipe at each other’s head with a knuckleduster.
• Whosoever draws the blood from the opponent’s head first is declared the winner.
• The fight is real and the jetty’s make all efforts to draw blood from the opponent’s head and a referee intervenes on noticing the first drop.
• Sometimes the fight is over in matter of seconds but is nevertheless conducted.

BACKGROUND

• Though this form of wrestling was popular during the period of the Vijayanagar rulers who reigned between the 14^th and the 17^th centuries, it has gone extinct.
• It was held at the palace premises on Tuesday to mark the Vijayadashmi of the Wadiyars and was witnessed by a large crowd.
• Medieval travellers from Portuguese noticed this form of wrestling during the Navaratri celebrations in Vijayanagar empire and have left detailed accounts of it.