After securing back-to-back victories in the Sawai Man Guard Polo Cup and winning the Sternhagen Bhavnagar Polo Trophy, the Jaipur Polo Team, led by U.S. Polo Assn. Brand Ambassador, Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh ‘Pacho’ Singh, continues to live up to the historic symbol they carry with them in every match; the Pachranga.
The Pachranga
The significance of the symbol in the team’s iconic jerseys, though unique and memorable, runs far deeper than just their vibrant appearance on the field. The five stripes of color each represent a core value of the Kachwaha Dynasty, Jaipur’s historic rulers, and a martial and cultural legacy that spans centuries.
The symbol of the Pachranga originated under Prince Man Singh 1 of the Kachwaha Dynasty. During his military campaigns in Afghanistan, Prince Man Singh and his armies faced five dissenting tribes in open combat. After emerging victorious, the tribe leaders approached Prince Man Singh on the battlefield, each carrying their own colored flags of red, yellow, green, white, and blue. This historic victory that resulted in the unification of the Afghanistan tribes under the Kachwaha Dynasty required the use of both military and diplomatic expertise guided by the core values of the dynasty that are now represented in each color: red for valor, yellow for wisdom, green for prosperity, white for peace, and blue for loyalty.
The Jaipur Polo Team
Many years later, the sport of polo was introduced to India as a military exercise. Jaipur and the Kachwaha Dynasty quickly embraced the sport and began excelling in competitions after the game was standardized. The Jaipur polo team, founded in the early 1900s, dominated internationally for nine consecutive years beginning in 1930 and later won the Polo World Cup in Deauville, France in 1957, while proudly displaying the Pachranga on polo fields across the globe. However, polo fell out of popularity later in the 20th century, and the Jaipur team would fall dormant for over 70 years until Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh ‘Pacho’ Singh revived Jaipur’s polo tradition under the Pachranga symbol.
Winning more than 100 titles in the sport, Pacho and the Jaipur Polo Team continue to reinvigorate the polo legacy of the city and the Kachwaha Dynasty. Today, Pacho uses his status as a U.S. Polo Assn. brand ambassador and the Jaipur Polo Team’s USPA sponsorship to spread awareness about the sport of polo and its history. As the team collects victories across the globe, carrying the Pachranga with them, centuries of history and culture are revived and honored.
Written in collaboration with Lily Brennan