Traditional martial arts performance in Konark, Orissa

While visiting Sun Temple in Konark (state of Orissa), we were lucky to get to see a performance of traditional martial arts - Paika Nrutya. Paika means battle and nrutya means dance, so this form of dance is an enactment of a battle. A group of men wearing traditional clothes and playing drums were enthusiastically cheering and shouting while building different human pyramids and performing other feats with what looked like a heavy wooden wheel. Traditionally village warriors used to perform this dance to pump themselves up before going to battle. Both the sight and mood were just great!