Mallakhamb is an ancient traditional Indian sport. 'Malla' means gymnast, and
'khamb' means pole. Thus, the name 'Mallakhamb' stands for 'a gymnast's pole'.
The origin of Mallakhamb can be traced to the 12th century, where it is
mentioned in Manas-Olhas - a classic by Chalukya in 1135 A.D. For seven
centuries, the art lay dormant, till it was revived by Balambhatta Dada Deodhar,
the sports and fitness instructor to Peshwa Bajirao II, who reigned during the
first half of the 19th century. The apparently simple 'khamb' does not reveal
the complexities of the exercises, which require the performer to turn, twist,
stretch and balance on the pole. It is this consummate grace, this agility,
dexterity and suppleness of body, combined with quick reflexes, muscle
coordination and sense of timing, that single out this game as special. Of the
states in India, more than 14 participate in Mallakhamb competitions at the
national level.
At present, the following forms of Mallakhamb are prevalent:
Plain Mallakhamb - fixed on the ground
In this, a vertical wooden pole is fixed in the ground. The wood used is
usually teakwood or sheeshum, preferred because of its twin
characteristics of toughness and smoothness. The pole stands 225 cm above ground
level. It has a circumference of 55 cm at its lower end, 45 cm in the middle,
and 30 cm at the upper end. The height of the neck is 20 cm, and its
circumference is 15 cm, and radius of the upper knobe is 13 cm.
Hanging Mallakhamb
A smaller version of the fixed Mallakhamb, it is suspended with the aid of
hooks and chains. The swinging and revolving motion of this type of Mallakhamb
renders the exercises quite difficult and exacting.
Cane or Rope Mallakhamb
Here, a cotton rope which is 2.5 cm thick, replaces the wooden pole. The
performers are expected to strike various yogic poses, without knotting the rope
in any way.
Revolving Bottle Mallakhamb
This is a recent innovation, and consists of 32 glass bottles placed on a
wooden platform, with the Mallakhamb balanced on top.
The other forms of this sport include the Baseless Mallakhamb and Fixed
Bottle Mallakhamb. Recently, a few more variations have been introduced,
viz. Inclined and Suspended Mallakhamb.
Mallakhamb exercises make the body light and strong. These exercises are most
beneficial for the stomach, back, arms and thighs, and have been found useful to
achieve efficiency in a number of other games and sports like gymnastics and
wrestling. The Mallakhamb sport affects the spinal chord most, which develops
energy and increases longevity, and is the only exercise in which all big and
small organs of the body are active.
