Zunj

An obsession for fightsSome enjoy pigeons, some bulls – but we Kolhapuris enjoy this.Bokad – a male goat - heads on fights.Normally male & females goats are aggressive and use fighting abilities to protect their off springs; but when men instigate the fights for their pleasure….

Zunj –Takkar

Unwilling getting dragged

Looking for other one?

Scapegoat ?

The other one

No invitations are required.

Its time to rejoice.

Games people play

The Honors are at stake

The instincts exploited

No language required to inspire

Pause for judge each other

The Game must go on !

Identifying with each other

The cheerleaders

Some satisfaction

A proxy challenge

We Kolhapuris are fond of these fights and enjoy them. Some times people also fight like these goats.

Sathmari – Men fighting with the elephants ( a forgotten discipline and only few witnesses alive)

Chatrapati Shahu Maidaan ( Arena) for men’s wrestling.The last two were favorites of erstwhile Rulers of Kolhapur. The wrestling is still a popular and Kolhapur houses number of Talims ( practice arenas), people from all over country come to groom themselves in Kolhapuri style – which it self is now changing.

Reda Takkar BullsHeadsOn

Shri Shahu Chatrapati Wrestling Stadium. Behind it Palace Theatre ( Now Keshavrao Bhosale Natyagriha)

Arena Door for the fighter men

Image on entrance gate of arena

Hiding well for the fighter men

Elephants run wildly and infuriated on the ground and fighter men use to hide for saving themselves on the stone wells. Now the arena houses four tennis courts .

Raja Shiva Chatrapati The eternal pride of Marathas

Shivaji understood the nerve of the Marathi people to inspire

them to raise and fight against the Mughals in 17th Century and constituted Shivashahi – pride of

Maratha’s .Present Maharaja Bhosale’s of Kolhapur are ancestors of raja

Shiva Chatrapati.

A ground photo of full scale Shivaji Statue in hear of Kolhapur

Raja Shiva Chatrapati The eternal pride of Marathas

Shivaji understood the nerve of the Marathi people to inspire

them to raise and fight against the Mughals in 17th Century and constituted Shivashahi – pride of

Maratha’s .Present Maharaja Bhosale’s of Kolhapur are ancestors of raja

Shiva Chatrapati.

A ground photo of full scale Shivaji Statue in hear of Kolhapur

Pictures by Charudutta Tanksale 2008

Kolhapur is one of the most affluent districts in India. Fertile soil, hard working people, foresighted developments carried out by Raja Shahu Chatrapati and his followers. Commodity trade and now diverse industries honour we Kolhapuris.