Public Story
Locho
Mazandarani people are ship-loving people. Every year on the 26th day of Tabari (July 28th) in the mountains of Yalagi in Bandpei region، In the villages of Haj Sheikh Moussa, Lehe and Nirasem, they hold a festival, sing songs and cook sour food, which is a symbol of happiness and distance from sadness. They gather and this is the beginning of Lucho's local wrestling competitions. Lucho is an inseparable member of the people of Mazandaran region. They see wrestling as an excuse to get together. There is definitely a wrestler in every Mazandarani's house. They teach their children the same.Children learn to wrestle and then they send them to the dirt pit because they believe that the way to success and progress of their sons is in wresting. Lo means edge and cho means wood. Locho is 1,500 years old and has been passed down from generation to generation.from last now young people are trying to preserve this old custom. These competitions are held to choose the most brave person in the region.According to the rules of this competition, if someone touches the ground with more than two parts of his body, he loses the competition, and this has turned Lucho into the toughest local wrestling. Respect for the elderly is one of the basic principles of this event. The first sport of Iran is wrestling and it is said that it was the base and school of free wrestling in Iran and the world of Lucho.They prepare prizes such as cows, sheep, blankets and cash prizes for the best people, and everyone helps as much as they can.The best person in any sheep weight and the most brave athlete, who after challenging the opponent in the field is characterized by the defeat of the opponents and The cow gets a prize.As a documentary photographer and sports lover, I traveled to Mazandaran in July 2023 and saw the passion and excitement for a local competition. I decided to document this event with multiple trips over the course of two years. My goal is to try to preserve the ancient ritual It is Iranian.
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