During the early 1900s jhulna lavni and Turra-Kalagi folk song as well as wrestling akharas declined whilst rasiya akharas spread. In the town of Hathras there are a number of public and private gardens in which citizens would often congregate. This contributed a significant part of cultural life throughout the Braj region with local elites sponsoring their performances. Local elites or gentry also supported akharas by providing meeting spaces or clubhouses in which rasiya battles (dangals) would take place. By the 1950s akharas had proliferated and had been established in neighbouring towns such as Aligarh, Mathura, and Agra. The most successful period for hathrasi rasiya was in the mid-20th century where an estimated 70 akharas were operating in the region, these groups ranged in skill and fame.
