Mallakhamba, or mallakhamb is a traditional sport, originating from the Indian subcontinent, in which a group of gymnasts perform aerial yoga and gymnastic postures using wrestling grips in concert with a stationary vertical pole. The word "mallakhamb" also refers to the pole used in the sport.^[1] The pole is usually made from sheesham (Indian rosewood) polished with castor oil.^[2] Other popular versions of mallakhamba are practiced using a cane or a rope instead of a pole.^[3] The origins of pole dancing can be traced back to the sport of mallakhamba.^[4]

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The name mallakhamba derives from the terms malla, meaning wrestler, and khamb, which means a pole. Literally meaning "wrestling pole", the term refers to a traditional training implement used by wrestlers.^[5]

On April 9, 2013, the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh declared mallakhamba the state sport. As of 2017^[update], more than 20 other states in India have followed suit.^[6]

Early examples of mallakhamba are seen on Chandraketugarh pottery from between the 2nd century BCE and 1st century CE, where figures are shown exhibiting gymnastics by hanging on a pole like structure in the shape of a T which is held by another person. In 7th century CE, Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Xuanzhang provides evidence of pole climbing of the pillar cult which he witnessed at Prayagraj. Xuanzhang records that Hindu ascetics climbed the top of a pole situated at Prayagraj, clinging onto it with one hand and one foot, and watched the sunset with their heads turned to the right as it set, marking it as a type a solar rite.^[7] The earliest mention of mallakhamba in a literary work is in the 1135 CE Sanskrit classic Manasollasa, written by the Western Chalukya king Someshvara III. A Rajput painting from 1610 CE shows athletes performing various acrobatics, including pole climbing, while dancing to Raga Desahka.^[8] A Mughal painting from 1670 depicts athletes practicing club swinging, weightlifting, and pole climbing similar to mallakhamba.^[9]

Little mention of mallakhamba exists between the late 17th century to the late 18th century, until it received new interest from Balambhatta Dada Deodhar, the teacher of Peshwa Baji Rao II. During the first half of the 19th century, Lakshmibai, the Rani of Jhansi learned mallakhamba with her childhood friends Nana Saheb and Tantia Tope.^[10]

This section does not cite any sources. (November 2019)

Mallakhamba was demonstrated at the 1936 Summer Olympics.^[11] Competitive mallakhamba made its first appearance in 1958 at the National Gymnastics Championships (NGCs) held at the Pahadganj Stadium, Delhi, India. The Gymnastics Federation of India (GFI) proposed to recognize the game and include it in subsequent NGCs. The first national mallakhamba championships were held in 1962 at Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, as part of the NGCs. Around 1968, the game was introduced in the All-India Inter-University Gymnastics Championships. The national mallakhamba championships were organized annually by the GFI until 1976. In 1977, the mallakhamba championships were removed from the GFI, and no major championship games were held until 1980.^[12]

Bamshankar Joshi and other mallakhamba enthusiasts in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, founded an all-India level organization named the Mallakhamb Federation of India. The first all-India national mallakhamba championships were organized by the new sports association in 1981 from January 28 to 29 at Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. The event brought in representatives from all over India. The national mallakhamba championships have since been organized by different state associations affiliated to this federation.

Competitively, there are three variations of mallakhamba which have been in practice since 1937:

1. Pole mallakhamba
2. Hanging mallakhamba
3. Rope mallakhamba

All variations are practiced by both men and women, though pole mallakhamba is more commonly practiced by men, and rope mallakhamba by women.^[13] All mallakhamba competitions are organized under the rules made by the Mallakhamb Federation of India, and 28 states are affiliated to the Federation. Himani Uttam Parab won gold medal in rope long set in the first World Mallakhamb Championship 2019.^[14]

• Vishwa Mallakhamb Federation (VMF)^[17][18]
• Mallakhamb Confederation of World (MCW)
• Asian Mallakhamb Federation (AMF)
• South Asian Mallakhamb Federation (SAMF)
• Mallakhamb Federation USA (MFU)

• Mallakhamb Federation, widely known as Mallakhamb Federation of India (MFI), registered on 7 June 1984^[19] with Registration No. 13752 in Ujjain, M.P. It is affiliated with Vishwa Mallakhamb Federation.^[20][21] In September 2022, The Times of India revealed that following allegations for sexual harassment and the failure to comply with the national sports code of India 2011, the MFI's recognition as a National Sports Federation has been withdrawn and its annual financial grant stopped by the sports ministry.^[22]
• Mallakhamb Sports Federation of India (MSFI) has been affiliated with Mallakhamb Confederation of World (MCW), Asian Mallakhamb Federation (AMF), South Asian Mallakhamb Federation (SAMF).^[23]

• Bo-taoshi
• Chinese pole
• Kalaripayattu
• Malla-yuddha
• Pole dance