Mardani Khel

Understand

Where Mardani Khel comes from

Mardani Khel, literally the 'game of the brave', traces its roots to the armies of the Maratha kingdom founded by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th century. Maratha soldiers fought in the hills and forts of the Sahyadri, where speed, agility and close-quarter weapon skills mattered more than heavy armour, and the fighting techniques of that era were preserved in akhadas (training halls) long after the battles ended. Kolhapur in particular became a stronghold of the form, alongside centres across western Maharashtra. Today Mardani Khel is kept alive by teachers and akhadas who train new students, and by public demonstrations at festivals and commemorations of Maratha history.

How it's practiced

Mardani Khel is built around weapon handling rather than empty-hand fighting. Practitioners train with the talwar (sword) and dhaal (shield), the Dandpatta (a gauntlet sword fixed to the forearm), the bhala (spear), the vita (a corded lance that can be thrown and pulled back), the katyar (dagger) and the lathi or stick, along with mace and mudgal training for strength. Much of the art lies in fast, circular footwork and continuous spinning of the weapons, which lets a fighter defend against several opponents at once. Training is usually done in akhadas under a guru, beginning with stick work before moving on to bladed weapons, and the art is regularly shown in public demonstrations at Shiv Jayanti, Dussehra and other occasions celebrating Maratha heritage.