Two years after my visit to Guru Hanuman Akhada, I received an invitation from Praveen Pahelwan to attend a local Dangal in Narela.

Having watched the movie Dangal recently, I wanted to witness a real mud wrestling competition. I had imagined those dramatic mid-air throws, the intensity in the eyes of the wrestlers, and the raw energy of traditional Indian kushti.

This was my chance.

The Journey to Narela – During the Farmers’ Agitation

I decided to travel on my scooty to Narela. What I didn’t fully anticipate was that this was during the time of the farmers’ agitation around Delhi. Many roads were blocked. Google Maps kept rerouting me. At multiple points, I had to stop and ask locals for directions.

Honestly, that part was slightly tense. But everyone I interacted with was helpful and friendly. Eventually, after navigating through blocked roads and diversions, I reached the location safely.

Looking back, that journey itself felt like part of the story.

A Mela Atmosphere – And the Dangal at Its Heart

When I reached, I realized it wasn’t just a wrestling event. It was a full-fledged mela. Food stalls, local vendors, families gathered around — and right in the center of it all was the mud arena where the dangal was taking place.

Multiple matches were happening — juniors and seniors alike. The atmosphere was loud, energetic, and unpredictable.

The mud pit wasn’t just a sporting arena. It was a stage.

The Intensity of the Fights

Some of the bouts were extremely intense. You could feel the tension building between wrestlers. At times, arguments broke out mid-match, leading to fouls.

However, the coaches were strict. The discipline was immediate. If rules were broken, penalties were enforced, and matches were even canceled when necessary.

As a photographer, these moments were powerful.

Below is an image capturing a foul situation during one of the heated matches.

(Image Below – Foul Scene)

These were not rehearsed emotions. They were real.

Mid-Air Tosses & Peak Action

I had gone there hoping to capture that one perfect frame — a wrestler being tossed mid-air, frozen against the sky.

And thankfully, I got multiple opportunities.

Because the dangal was conducted in an open ground with good natural light, my images turned out much stronger compared to my earlier indoor experiences at the akhada.

Below is an images of a mid-air toss captured during the event.

This tournament was when I truly realized the value of my 70–300mm lens. Even though it was considered a kit telephoto lens, it had vibration reduction (VR), which helped stabilize my shots. The reach allowed me to isolate subjects beautifully without stepping into the arena.

It quickly became one of my go-to lenses for several tournaments that followed — even after I upgraded to higher-end gear.

Emotions Beyond the Fight

What makes a dangal special isn’t just the throws and takedowns — it’s the emotions afterward.

I witnessed wrestlers in despair after losing. I saw athletes cleaning mud out of their eyes before stepping back into position. I saw exhaustion, pride, frustration, and respect — sometimes all within a few minutes.

Below are images capturing:

• A player in despair after losing

• A wrestler cleaning mud from his eyes
  
  

These frames told stories beyond technique.