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Photos: Indigenous sport of Mallakhamb performed at Royal Opera House

Multi-disciplinary performances featuring the indigenous Indian practice was showcased for the first time ever at the Royal Opera House in Mumbai. Originating in Maharashtra around the 12th century, Mallakhamb is a little-known traditional sport combining elements of gymnastics, wrestling and aerial yoga. This 900-year old practice remained relatively unknown and underappreciated for almost seven centuries until it made a comeback in the early 19th century.

Updated on: Aug 04, 2019 12:43 PM IST

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An artist prays before pole Mallakhamb rehearsal at Sane Guruji Arogya Mandir, Santacruz, in Mumbai. Multi-disciplinary performances featuring the indigenous Indian practice was showcased for the first time ever at the Royal Opera House in Mumbai. (Kunal Patil / HT Photo)

Updated on Aug 04, 2019 12:43 PM

An artist prays before pole Mallakhamb rehearsal at Sane Guruji Arogya Mandir, Santacruz, in Mumbai. Multi-disciplinary performances featuring the indigenous Indian practice was showcased for the first time ever at the Royal Opera House in Mumbai. (Kunal Patil / HT Photo)

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Performers gear up for the unique evening of rope and pole Mallakhamb accompanied by the rhythmic melodies of electro-fusion music, featuring acts performed by visually challenged artistes from the Kamla Mehta School for the Blind and contortionists from the Mallakhamb India Ensemble. (Kunal Patil / HT Photo)

Updated on Aug 04, 2019 12:43 PM

Performers gear up for the unique evening of rope and pole Mallakhamb accompanied by the rhythmic melodies of electro-fusion music, featuring acts performed by visually challenged artistes from the Kamla Mehta School for the Blind and contortionists from the Mallakhamb India Ensemble. (Kunal Patil / HT Photo)

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The Ensemble comprises five of India’s best Mallakhamb artistes – Akshay Taral, Atharva Angre, Preetesh Gamre, Kalpesh Jadhav and Ashwinkumar Rawal. Their performance is daring and hypnotizing, displaying an incredible sense of balance, dexterity and discipline that is sure to leave audiences mesmerized and awestruck. The piece is accompanied by a background score composed exclusively for the performance by Donn Bhatt. (Kunal Patil / HT Photo)

Updated on Aug 04, 2019 12:43 PM

The Ensemble comprises five of India’s best Mallakhamb artistes – Akshay Taral, Atharva Angre, Preetesh Gamre, Kalpesh Jadhav and Ashwinkumar Rawal. Their performance is daring and hypnotizing, displaying an incredible sense of balance, dexterity and discipline that is sure to leave audiences mesmerized and awestruck. The piece is accompanied by a background score composed exclusively for the performance by Donn Bhatt. (Kunal Patil / HT Photo)

4/10

Director Benjamin Knapton speaks with artists during rehearsal. This piece was originally commissioned for and performed at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games “Festival 2018” held in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia and was also performed at the 2019 Sydney Festival in January earlier this year. The ensemble is also slated to tour multiple destinations in Europe and North America later this year. (Kunal Patil / HT Photo)

Updated on Aug 04, 2019 12:43 PM

Director Benjamin Knapton speaks with artists during rehearsal. This piece was originally commissioned for and performed at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games “Festival 2018” held in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia and was also performed at the 2019 Sydney Festival in January earlier this year. The ensemble is also slated to tour multiple destinations in Europe and North America later this year. (Kunal Patil / HT Photo)

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Originating in Maharashtra around the 12th century, Mallakhamb is a little-known traditional sport combining elements of gymnastics, wrestling and aerial yoga. Usually performed on vertical teakwood poles or with suspended cotton ropes; acrobats climb, slide, twirl and balance on these apparatuses using their elastic bodies to demonstrate intricate and astounding feats of flexibility, poise, strength and physical artistry. (Kunal Patil / HT Photo)

Updated on Aug 04, 2019 12:43 PM

Originating in Maharashtra around the 12th century, Mallakhamb is a little-known traditional sport combining elements of gymnastics, wrestling and aerial yoga. Usually performed on vertical teakwood poles or with suspended cotton ropes; acrobats climb, slide, twirl and balance on these apparatuses using their elastic bodies to demonstrate intricate and astounding feats of flexibility, poise, strength and physical artistry. (Kunal Patil / HT Photo)

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Artist rest before their performances, at the Royal Opera House in Mumbai. As with many other indigenous sports in India, Mallakhamb can trace its roots to ancient times. (Kunal Patil / HT Photo)

Updated on Aug 04, 2019 12:43 PM

Artist rest before their performances, at the Royal Opera House in Mumbai. As with many other indigenous sports in India, Mallakhamb can trace its roots to ancient times. (Kunal Patil / HT Photo)

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Originally devised as an exercise for wrestlers and warriors, over the centuries, Mallakhamb has evolved from being viewed as a traditional sport to being showcased as an enthralling artistic performance in its own right. (Kunal Patil / HT Photo)

Updated on Aug 04, 2019 12:43 PM

Originally devised as an exercise for wrestlers and warriors, over the centuries, Mallakhamb has evolved from being viewed as a traditional sport to being showcased as an enthralling artistic performance in its own right. (Kunal Patil / HT Photo)

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This 900-year old practice remained relatively unknown and underappreciated for almost seven centuries until it made a comeback in the early 19th century. (Kunal Patil / HT Photo)

Updated on Aug 04, 2019 12:43 PM

This 900-year old practice remained relatively unknown and underappreciated for almost seven centuries until it made a comeback in the early 19th century. (Kunal Patil / HT Photo)

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Artist perform Mallakhamb at the Royal Opera House. These gravity-defying performances explode all expectations of the limits of the human body. (Kunal Patil / HT Photo)

Updated on Aug 04, 2019 12:43 PM

Artist perform Mallakhamb at the Royal Opera House. These gravity-defying performances explode all expectations of the limits of the human body. (Kunal Patil / HT Photo)

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Since the wonder and mystique that surrounds Mallakhamb has been steadily growing, its unique culture is witnessing a resurgence of interest not just in Mumbai and India, but also around the world. (Kunal Patil / HT Photo)

Updated on Aug 04, 2019 12:43 PM

Since the wonder and mystique that surrounds Mallakhamb has been steadily growing, its unique culture is witnessing a resurgence of interest not just in Mumbai and India, but also around the world. (Kunal Patil / HT Photo)

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