GAYA, BIHAR — In an era where air-conditioned fitness centers and modern gym culture have largely replaced traditional Indian sports, a 76-year-old veteran wrestler in Bihar’s holy city of Gaya is proving that age is merely a number when fueled by passion and ancestral duty.

Every morning, long before the sun climbs over the banks of the Falgu River, Pandit Hira Nath Mehrawar enters the soil pit of the historic Sangat Ghat Akhara, located near the sacred Vishnupad Dev Ghat. His daily routine would put athletes half his age to shame: swinging heavy 50-kilogram mugdars (traditional wooden clubs) over his shoulders and completing over 100 pushups in a single session.

A 150-Year-Old Legacy in the Clay

For Pandit Hira Nath, wrestling (kushti) is far more than physical exercise—it is a sacred family inheritance. He first stepped onto the soft earth of the wrestling ring at the tender age of six. Nearly seven decades later, the 76-year-old serves as the chief instructor at Sangat Ghat Akhara, one of the few surviving mud arenas in Gaya.

The legendary arena was established roughly 150 years ago by Shri Prasadi Ustad, a celebrated wrestling guru from Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. Over the generations, the arena has molded scores of high-caliber grapplers who have represented the region on state and national stages.

"I face no difficulty during my workouts," says Mehrawar with a smile. "My health and physical fitness are direct results of decades of hard work, discipline, and regular training. Wrestling is my lifelong passion, and keeping my ancestors' legacy alive is my life's ultimate purpose."

Balancing Sacred Duties: Priest by Day, Guru by Dawn

Beyond his identity as a wrestling master, Mehrawar serves as a traditional priest, assisting thousands of pilgrims who travel to Gaya from across India and around the globe to perform ancestral pind daan rituals. Yet, despite his rigorous religious responsibilities, he has never allowed his morning sessions in the mud arena to falter.

While he admits that age has naturally softened his speed, his sheer willpower remains unshaken. He continues to train for over 40 minutes every single day, emphasizing that mental toughness outweighs physical limitations.

Fading Arenas and the Cry for Support

The story of Sangat Ghat Akhara is also one of quiet resistance against changing times. Gaya was once home to nearly 40 thriving mud wrestling arenas. Today, almost all have shuttered as the younger generation gravitates toward commercial gyms.

Mehrawar and his students point out that a lack of government funding, missing modern infrastructure, and sparse career incentives have severely weakened this centuries-old art form.

National-level wrestler Ritik Singh, who trains under Mehrawar at the akhara, voiced the struggle felt by local athletes:

"The mentorship we receive at Sangat Ghat Akhara is invaluable, but traditional wrestling urgently needs government support. There is a real shortage of modern coaching equipment and financial backing in Gaya, even though the techniques of the sport continue to evolve."

Fellow national-level medalist Sandeep Kumar Pathak echoed the deep respect the trainees hold for their elderly master:

"Pandit Hira Nath is not just our guru; he guided generations before us. Even at 76, his stamina during workouts leaves national and international wrestlers like us completely exhausted. Every technique, grip, and tactical move we know comes directly from him."

For Pandit Hira Nath Mehrawar, wrestling has never been a commercial venture. It remains a duty passed down from his forefathers—a tradition he intends to defend, one swing of the 50-kg club at a time