Hardoi Kanpur Dangal

हरदोई कानपुर दंगल
By Deepak Ansuia Prasad

दिल्ली से बहार दंगल देखने जाना मेरे लिए हमेशा खुशनुमा रहता है, सफ़र चाहे कितना भी थकान लिए हुए हो , मंजिल पे पहुँच कर दंगल देखने की तथा देश और दुनिया को एक और नया कल्चर , राग रंग, रहन सहन दिखने की उमंगों से मन भर जाता है , कानपुर पहुंच कर कुछ ऐसे ही महसूस हुआ! दंगल के आयोजक श्री कनोजिया से मुलाकात की तो बातचीत में उन्होंने बताया की दंगल की प्रेरणा उन्हें उन्नाव के दीवानजी से मिली , रेलवे से रिटायरमेंट के बाद वो अपने खेल, मनोरंजन इत्यादि को बढ़ावा देना चाहते हैं , दंगल इसी सिलसिले में एक कड़ी हैं. मैंने दंगल में बुलाने के लिए उन्हें धन्यवाद दिया ! दंगल बेहतरीन हुआ, महिलाओ से पुरषों की कुश्तिया मुख्य आकर्षण का केंद्र थी, लगभग सभी महिलाओं ने अपने प्रतिद्वंदियों को कुश्ती में हय्राया। इंदु चोधरी , दिव्या सैन, सोनिया, सुदेश आदि महिला पहलवानों ने दंगल में शानदार कुश्तिया दिखाई , और दर्शकों को रोमांचित कर दिया। वहीँ पहली कुश्ती भिवानी के आनंद और झाँसी के बालाजी , दूसरी कुश्ती झाँसी के शैतान सिंह और बनारस के अच्छे लाल के साथ हुई, दोनों कुश्तियां बराबर रही. दंगल के खासियत रही अखाड़े में एक ही कुश्ती को कराना जिससे दर्शकों ने आराम से और बड़े चाव से कुश्तियां देखि, उत्तर प्रदेश पुलिस के जवानों ने सुरक्षा व्यवस्था बनाए रखी और उनके आला अफसर भी दंगल में पहुंचे। क्षत्रे के विधायक व् संसद सदस्य की प्रत्याशी भी दंगल देखने पहुंची , दंगल कमिटी ने उनका सम्मान किया और उन्होंने पहलवानों की हौसला अफजाई की.













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ENGLISH VERSION

Visiting a local wrestling competition in the countryside is a great opportunity to meet different people and learn about culture and traditions. When I arrived at Kanpur and then Hardoi, I met the chairman of the dangal committee, Mr. Kanojia, who welcomed us and told me about how they started the tradition holding a dangal there. He told me that after retiring from Indian Railways he decided to organize a yearly dangal to entertain the people of the area and develop and promote sporting activities among the youth. With the help of Daroga ji of Unnav he organized the first such event some 6 years ago and has continued ever since.
Traditional wrestling in India has long been a male domain. But recently India’s women wrestler have been making a name for themselves in freestyle wrestling. Occasionally there will be some women’s bouts at dangals, but this event had something different: a series of matches in which female wrestlers took on male opponents.
The idea was to demonstrate the skill level of the women wrestlers. And the crowd was left with no doubt that they were all top level competitors as they watched most of the female pahalwans defeat the men who came out to challenge them.
Divya Sain, who has defeated many male wrestlers in the past, made quick work of her opponent. She pinned him in less than a minute.
Indu Chowdhry fought a long match against a tough male opponent. She put her freestyle skills to work, using an ankle lace to turn him over, but he defended well. Finally she was able to secure a quarter nelson and flip him onto his back to secure the fall.
Anju took control of her male opponent Golu early in their match before turning Golu on his back and pinning him.
In the men’s competition, the first prize match was between Anand of Bhiwani, Haryana and Balaji of Jhansi, Uttar Pardesh. The match ended in a draw. The second match of Shaitan singh vs Achhe Lal of Banares also ended in a draw.
The dangal was unique because the wrestling arena was on a raised platform, and spectators sat peacefully so everyone could see the action. Security arrangements were provided by Uttar Pradesh Police. The most senior officer oversaw the security arrangements himself and watched the dangal as well. The Area MLA and MP aspirant also came to grace the occasion. She inaugurated bouts and blessed and motivated the wrestlers.