Mallakhamba
A mallakhamba team performs on the pole, 2015 | |
| Highest governing body | Mallakhamb Federation of India |
|---|---|
| First played | c. 2nd century BCE |
| Characteristics | |
| Mixed-sex | Yes |
| Type | Indoor or outdoor, gymnastics, pole sports |
| Equipment | Wrestling grips, vertical pole |
| Presence | |
| Country or region | India |
| Olympic | 1936 |
Mallakhamba, or mallakhamb is a traditional sport, originating from the Indian subcontinent, in which a group of gymnasts perform aerial yoga and gymnastic postures using wrestling grips in concert with a stationary vertical pole. The word mallakhamba also refers to the pole used in the sport. The pole is usually made from shisham (Indian rosewood) polished with castor oil. Other popular versions of mallakhamba are practiced using a cane or a rope instead of a pole. The origins of pole dancing can be traced back to the sport of mallakhamba.
The name mallakhamba derives from the terms malla, meaning wrestler, and khamba, which means a pole. Literally meaning "wrestling pole", the term refers to a traditional training implement used by wrestlers.
On April 9, 2013, the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh declared mallakhamba to be an official state sport. By 2017, more than 20 other states in India had added it as one of their state sports.