AKHARA

Photographs © Asher Imtiaz

(2011-2012)

Pahelwani or Kushti is a form of wrestling from the Indian subcontinent. In the context of Kushti, ‘Akhara’ often denotes a wrestling ground. For wrestlers, the Akhara serves as a training school and an area in which to compete against each other. The art of pahelwani is comprised of stance, moves and countermoves.

These photos are part of a series to explore the art of pahelwani and document life in the Akhara. All photos were taken in Pakistan in the year 2011 and 2012.