MYSORE: The Vajra Musthi Kalaga, an ancient martial art form practised by the Jetty community, is on the verge of becoming extinct as it is not receiving enough patronage from the state government and the Mysore royal family.
Wrestlers from the Jetty community, also considered to be trusted lieutenants of kings and other royal family members for generations, perform the Vajra Musthi Kalaga at the Aane thotti of the Amba Vilas Palace on the day of Ayudha Puja.
This martial art is a major attraction at Amba Vilas Palace during Dasara.
In the days of the kings, wrestlers clashed and exhibited their skills and the ruler would give them cash prizes.
The Jettys produced renowned wrestlers and the Palace took care of them. However, the community has lost interest in grooming young wrestlers.
Now, the Vajra Musthi Kalaga is kept alive only as a tradition during Dasara.
Less than 60 of them now practise it. The request of the community for financial support or monthly honorarium has fallen on deaf ears, says Hemanthkumar, a wrestler.
Many renowned wrestlers have passed away and the younger generation has switched to other professions, he said.The community members feel the government should promote and give good coverage to the event if they want the sport to flourish.
Researcher and writer Maheshwaran from the Jetty community said they had written to the Union government to provide training and education to children from the community so that they can become good wrestlers and experts in martial arts.
