Photos: Annual dangal in Varanasi welcomes female wrestlers

In a first at the annual wrestling contest organised by the Akhada Goswami Tulsidas in Varanasi, 24 young women showcased their skills in a real life version of the hit movie 'Dangal' with one bout even pitting a brother-sister duo against each other.

Updated on: Nov 29, 2017 1:38 PM IST

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Wrestler Freedom Yadav poses on the opening day of a wrestling championship at the popular Assi ghat in Varanasi on November 28, 2017. For first time, women competitors were allowed in the annual contest organised by the Akhada Goswami Tulsidas in the memory of Amarnath Mishra, the late chief priest of Sankatmochan temple. (Rajesh Kumar / HT Photo)

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Wrestlers Freedom Yadav (in red) and Bhavana grapple during a bout at Assi Ghat in Varanasi. “Time has changed. Woman wrestlers have won medals and made India proud. We want to encourage women and so we have invited them,” said Vishwambhar Nath Mishra, the shrine’s current head priest. (Rajesh Kumar / HT Photo)

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Freedom Yadav slams her opponent Bhavana to the mat during their match. A total of 24 young women are participating in two weight classes of 48kg and 75kg at the event. (Rajesh Kumar / HT Photo)

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A referee announces Freedom Yadav’s win against her opponent. Yadav was judged the day’s winner in the 75 Kg weight class. (Rajesh Kumar / HT Photo)

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Besides breaking a glass ceiling in an arena steeped in patriarchal rules and regulations, the women wrestlers managed to do what the film ‘Dangal’ did to the silver screen -- Draw in large crowds. (Rajesh Kumar / HT Photo)

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Another wrestler, 16-year-old Khushi Yadav climbed onto the mat to face her brother Karan, two years younger than her, in the 48kg category. (Rajesh Kumar / HT Photo)

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Karan and Khushi Yadav grapple during their match in the competition. From a family of wrestlers, the siblings are trained by their grandfather Kallu Pahalwan. “My father (Vinod Yadav) had participated in national wrestling championships. I want to be an international wrestler. Winning gold for the country in the Olympics is my dream,” Khushi said after besting her brother. (Rajesh Kumar / HT Photo)

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Khushi who practices in the arena two hours in the morning and evening, often with her brother thanked the temple priest for opening the doors of this traditional arena to young woman grapplers. The chief priest played “Laabhdayak Bapu”, or benefactor father, she said making a play on the Dangal hit song “Haanikarak Bapu”. (Rajesh Kumar / HT Photo)

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The all women’s wrestlers group poses for a picture at the event. The winners will take home cash rewards. “The amount will be disclosed on the concluding day (Thursday),” Kallu Pahalwan said. (Rajesh Kumar / HT Photo)