ID this greeting gesture at an Indian akhada

The Game Room
1

Or wrestling camp.

Reading about the Olympics discarding wrestling (which is the inanest thing I’ve ever heard) I eventually wandered across this video about an old traditional akhada.

So, about 20 seconds into the video, the wrestlers are starting their day I guess and they all come around and check in with the coach. They each touch the coach’s pants leg, and the coach also touches each person back.

It struck me as an interesting ritual, if that’s what it is.

2

The traditional greeting of an elder is to touch their feet, showing respect. The wrestlers seem to be paying homage to this tradition without quite reaching down as far as the feet. Usually you would say "pranam“ and the elder says “kushro“ which I’ve always thought meant something like bless you, child.

3

Is that something all over India?

4

I’ve never been to south India, but I thought it was common all over India. I think you’ll see people touching Ghandi’ s feet in the movie.

5

You’re right that these guys are doing a casual version of a common form of greeting elders in India. In the actual version you’re supposed to bend down and touch their feet and they give you a blessing. What you think was ‘Kushro’ is actually ‘Khush Raho’ which literally translates to “Stay happy” and it is basically a stock ‘blessing’.