🇮🇳 Incredible! Three Indians and the Timeless Art of Mallakhamb

By Silvia Ebner · Culture & Scene · July 28, 2017

In the serene town of Lienz, Austria, where the alpine breeze carries whispers of history and tradition, a trio of young Indian men has stunned audiences — not just with their strength, but with their spirit. With a seamless fusion of ancient Indian wisdom and breathtaking physical mastery, they perform Mallakhamb — a 2,000-year-old Indian martial art — leaving viewers in awe, wonder, and admiration.

This year, the renowned UmmiGummi and OLALA Festival, led by the visionary Hans Mutschlechner, delivered a performance that was not just a show but a soul-stirring cultural phenomenon. The spotlight belonged to Incredible Mallakhamb, an awe-inspiring acrobatic trio from Mumbai that turned an age-old tradition into an international spectacle.

✈️ From Mumbai to Lienz – A Journey of Determination and Grace

It wasn’t an easy journey. Anup Thakur (25), Deepak Shinde (21), and Tamaji Momdarkar (20) battled visa hurdles, foreign bureaucracy, and even a comical but exhausting misdirection — where their driver took them from Munich Airport to Linz instead of Lienz.

But true champions don’t break — they bend with humor and heart.

“We just treated it like an extended nap in the car,” laughs Anup. “Now that we’re here — Lienz feels magical.”

Their calm smiles masked a 40-hour journey, but not once did they complain. That same resilience would soon shine through their electrifying performance.

🥇 Icons of Indian Glory

These young artists are not just performers — they are torchbearers of India’s cultural treasure.

Anup Thakur, a name revered in the Mallakhamb world, is a multiple recipient of the Shiv Chhatrapati Award, Maharashtra’s highest sporting honor. His journey began at age eight, under the guidance of his beloved Guru, Vishal Mestri, who trained him free of charge, recognizing greatness in him when others hesitated.

“My Guru believed in me before my parents did,” Anup says with pride. “Today, my family beams with joy, and I carry forward his dream and mine — through Mallakhamb.”

Anup, alongside Deepak and Tamaji, went on to captivate millions — reaching the finals of India’s Got Talent and winning accolades on Georgia’s Got Talent. Together, they are not just athletes — they are national heroes in motion.

 What Is Mallakhamb?

The word Mallakhamb comes from Sanskrit, meaning “wrestler’s pole.” It is an art that pushes the human body to its absolute limit, performed on a 2.6-meter-high wooden pole or a swinging rope. Combining yogic postures, gymnastic control, and martial discipline, it is often described as “yoga in motion” — but it is also much more.

It is a dance of focus, fearlessness, and finesse.

It is India’s gift to the world.

“Mallakhamb is more demanding than yoga,” Anup explains. “It needs complete alignment of body, mind, and spirit. But with discipline and belief — it transforms you.”

In India, children as young as three years old start learning this timeless art. What begins as sport becomes a lifelong journey of transformation.

🌍 Carrying India to the World

What was once an obscure martial practice used to train warriors is now on a global rise — thanks to these incredible ambassadors. Today, Mallakhamb is practiced in Japan, the USA, China, and even Germany, and international curiosity is growing fast.

“It’s our dream to see Mallakhamb at the Olympic Games,” shares Tamaji. “But until then, every performance we give is a step toward that dream — and a celebration of India.”

This year alone, Incredible Mallakhamb has lit up stages in Paris, Austria, and is set to tour Dubai and Japan — spreading not just a sport, but the spirit of India.

✨ Lienz, Witness to Indian Greatness

This weekend, at Schloss Bruck, the people of Lienz witnessed something rare — a performance where tradition met triumph, and ancient Indian knowledge soared above the sky. What unfolded was more than acrobatics — it was a sacred offering, a tribute to the timeless connection between earth and soul.

Anup, Deepak, and Tamaji are not just acrobats. They are global cultural warriors, carrying a powerful message: that India’s ancient arts still breathe, rise, and inspire in the modern world.

Incredible Mallakhamb is not just their name — it is a living statement of who they are.

A movement.

A mission.

And a moment of pride for India and the world. 🇮🇳🌍