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The indigenous games of Nagaland
The picturesque state of Nagaland is home to numerous tribes, who possess a fascinating wealth of vibrant festivals and traditional songs, dances and games.
The most popular sport in the state by far, is an indigenous form of wrestling. The bouts start with the contestants holding each other's waist girdles. As soon as the signal is given, both the wrestlers try to throw off each other. A combination of various leg tricks and sheer brawn are employed to achieve victory, but the use of hands on an opponent's legs is considered a foul, though hands can be used to hold other parts of the body, waist upwards.
A wrestler is declared the winner if he can throw off his opponent, and in the process, get the trunk of the opponent to touch the ground, taking care not to let his own trunk do so. The wrestler who succeeds in pulling or thrusting down his opponent, or forces him into a kneeling position with both knees and one hand, or one knee and both hands touching the ground simultaneously, also wins. It takes three bouts to decide the result. Naga wrestling is quite popular amongst the Angami, Chakhesang, Zeliang, Rengma and Mao tribes. The sport has acquired an all - Nagaland sports status, and each alternate year a competition is held.
The other prominent sport in
Nagaland is cock - fighting. This sport consists of kicking, solely,
with the legs, and is quite similar in technique to Tae - Kwan - Do. The
contestants stand apart on their marks and exchange kicks. The use of hands
to hit or catch is absolutely forbidden. The barrage of kicks goes on until
one party or the other surrenders. The kicks can be inflicted on any part of
the body except the groin. This game, most popular amongst the Sema tribe,
demands superb strength and agility, speed and awesome leg work.