Old delhi

New Delhi: Once the heartbeat of old Delhi, traditional wrestling akhadas echoed with the sounds of cheering crowds, thudding bodies, and the earthy scent of mud.

Today, many of those spaces lie quiet, their legacy fading as the city’s sporting culture shifts and interest in desi wrestling wanes.

A former Indian wrestler, speaking to IANS, recalled a time when dangals like the one near Jama Masjid, Old Delhi would draw massive gatherings. "People would travel across the city just to watch bouts,” he said. “It wasn’t just a sport — it was community, pride, and tradition rolled into one."