GATKA, KALARIPAYATTU, THANG-TA AND MALLAKHAMBA IN KHELO INDIA

GATKA, KALARIPAYATTU, THANG-TA AND MALLAKHAMBA IN KHELO INDIA

Context

• The Sports Ministry has approved the inclusion of four Indigenous Games to be a part of Khelo India Youth Games 2021, scheduled to take place in Haryana. The games include: Gatka, Kalaripayattu, Thang-Ta and Mallakhamba.

More about news

• • Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2021, are scheduled to take place in Haryana

• KIYG is a part of the revamped national programme for development of sports ‘Khelo India’ which was approved by the Union Cabinet in 2017.

• • • The Khelo India Scheme aims to encourage sports all over the country, thus allowing the population to harness the power of sports through its cross-cutting influence, namely holistic development of children & youth, community development, social integration, gender equality, healthy lifestyle, national pride and economic opportunities related to sports development.
    • Under the Scheme, talented players identified in priority sports disciplines at various levels are provided annual financial assistance of Rs. 5 lakh per annum for 8 years.

• Gatka 

• • • Gatka is a weapon based martial art form, performed by the Sikhs of Punjab. 
    • Gatka is believed to have originated when the 6th Sikh Guru Hargobind adopted ‘Kirpan’ for self-defence during the Mughal era. 
    • The name ‘Gatka’ refers to the one whose freedom belongs to grace. 
    • Gatka features the skillful use of weapons, including stick, Kirpan, Talwar and Kataar.
    • The attack and defence in this art form is determined by the various positions of hands and feet and the nature of weapon used. 
    • It is displayed on a number of celebrations in the State including fairs.

• Kalaripayattu 

• One of the oldest martial arts in India, Kalaripayattu, although practiced in most parts of Southern India, originated in the state of Kerala around 3 rd century BC.

• • • Kalari, a Malayalam word, refers to a specific type of school/gymnasium/training hall where martial arts are practiced or taught.
    • This art form includes mock duels (armed and unarmed combat) and physical exercises. Not accompanied by any drumming or song, the most important aspect is the style of fighting. 
    • Kalaripayattu’s most important key is footwork; it also includes kicks, strikes and weapon-based practice. Even women practice this art. Kalaripayattu is still rooted in the traditional rituals and ceremonies.

• Thang Ta 

• • • Thang Ta is the exclusive martial dance form of Manipur. 
    • Thang means sword and Ta means spear. 
    • The dance performance is a unique display of skill, creativity and agility in which the performers enact a mock fight sequence – leaping to attack and defend.

• Mallakhamb

• • Mallakhamb is a traditional sport, originating from the Indian subcontinent, in which a gymnast performs aerial yoga or gymnastic postures and wrestling grips with a vertical stationary or hanging wooden pole, cane, or rope
  • The name Mallakhamb derives from the terms malla, meaning wrestler, and khamb, which means a pole. Literally meaning “wrestling pole”, the term refers to a traditional training implement used by wrestlers. 

Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have been the hotspots of this sport