The village of Asola-Fatehpur Beri is the strongest in India. For
generations, men have held two-hour workouts every morning and evening in this
countryside community on the southern rim of Delhi.
From
pre-teens to men nearing 50, bodybuilders sweat it out at one of the most popular
training spots, Akhada, which is a Hindi word that means wrestling arena.
This is
where brawny men wrestle in mud, climb ropes and perform a few hundred sit-ups
and push-ups, balancing their hands on bricks. Continue...
They
carry each other on their shoulders -- all part of the traditional Indian way
of working out. One lifts a 350 kilogram (771 pound) motorcycle up to his
chest.
The group of about 40 males
exercises outside, each wearing a simple loincloth.
"They
eat healthy and on time, they practice here everyday, and that's why they are
so strong," says Vijay Tanwar, the head-trainer at Akhada.
The
musclemen of Asola-Fatehpur Beri are capitalizing on their brawn by working as
bouncers in New Delhi's clubs and bars.
As more
nightspots open in India's capital, there's a greater need for men to guard the
doors, and the musclemen from this rural village are filling most of that
demand.
Profitable
muscle
Tanwar is
credited with starting this new trend.
Fifteen
years ago, he missed out on a place in India's wrestling team for the Olympics.
He says he was looking for an opportunity where he could use his muscle and
power, and so took a job as a bouncer.
"I
was the first bouncer from this village," he claims. "Then everyone
followed my path. More than 300 musclemen work as bouncers in New Delhi's clubs
and bars now."
They've
learned that pumping iron is a way to stay fit and earn a living.
"As
they say health is wealth. We are healthy but we're also earning good money,
able to send kids to good schools, eat well -- what else does one need in
life?" he says.
Building
muscle isn't only about becoming a bouncer in Delhi.
Disciplined
training is very important for these men and part of a tradition in the
village.
"There
are few modern gyms in the village, but most men prefer the traditional style
of working out," Tanwar says. "It makes your body flexible and the
risk of injury is less as well."
The
musclemen don't drink or smoke. And the majority of them are vegetarians with
diets that consist mostly of fruit, nuts, yogurts and lots of milk.
"We
do not consume any muscle enhancing supplements," Tanwar says.
Building
muscle in a new
generation
Urged by
his parents, Sonu Tanwar, 19, gets up at 5 a.m. to go running and then to the
Akhada.
Tanwar,
who represents the younger generation of bodybuilders, says: "I want to be
a great wrestler and make my parents proud. I play in the 66 kilogram category
and have won several championships."
Instilling
a habit of working out in young males is important, says Guru Lekhraj, a
75-year-old native of the Asola-Fatehpur village.
"Children
are prone to bad behavior between the age of 17 and 27, but if we get the child
interested in physical exercise and good health, bad behavior will not be an
influence. This is what our ancestors have taught us as well. Who will teach if
not the elders?"
Lekhraj
comes to the Akhada often to observe the men working out. He's a respected
figure among the musclemen, and is considered the bodybuilding guru of the
village.
Due to
Lekhraj's age, he cannot participate in training anymore but says he is very
happy the young generation is continuing the legacy.
"What
mother doesn't want her son to be strong, well-built, handsome and smart?"
Lekhraj says.
In the
case of Asola-Fatehpur Beri, bodybuilding also means building a legacy.
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