The grand multi-sport event aims to bring back the era of traditional games and create an environment to make these games flourish: Chief Minister.
Chhattisgarh Government’s unique initiative to revive our age-old tradition of ‘Desi Games’ in a grand way.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday inaugurated the grand multi-sport event ‘Chhattisgarhiya Olympic Games’, which aims to promote traditional games of Chhattisgarh, at Balbir Singh Juneja Indoor Stadium here.
“Chhattisgarh is known for its rich and unique culture and tradition. Traditional games hold a special place in the state’s culture.
However, as a modern civilization grows, people are gradually forgetting their old culture and traditions.
Keeping this in view, the Chhattisgarhiya Olympics games have been started to bring back the era of traditional games and create an environment to make these games flourish.
Besides, it also aims to make the younger generation aware of our culture and tradition”, said Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel.
Pointing out the benefits of playing traditional games, Shri Baghel said “these games are not only entertaining but also beneficial for maintaining good physical and mental health.
In rural areas, children, the elderly, and youth all engage in these games for entertainment and to keep themselves fit. Local Games will be organized in every village, block, and district under Chhattisgarhiya Olympic Games.
On the occasion, Shri Baghel also launched the brochure of the ‘Chhattisgarhiya Olympics’ which consists of all the information about the three-month-long sporting event. He kickstarted the game of ‘Kabaddi’ and ‘Fudgi’ and also tried his hands at the ‘Bhaura’ (Indian Spinning Top) game and ‘Pithhul’ games to encourage the players.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Sports Minister Shri Umesh Patel said that the progressive thinking of the Chief Minister has helped to promote the state’s unique culture to a great extent.
For the first time, such a grand event has been organized to promote the traditional games of Chhattisgarh. No such attempt has been made so far. The government is making every possible effort to promote local dialect, food, folk art, culture, and sports and to get it recognized outside Chhattisgarh as well.
The government’s efforts are paying off as well as the campaign of eating ‘Bore-Baasi’ has gained recognition across the country and abroad. Now traditional sports will also get their own identity.
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Government has undertaken a special initiative to revive one of the most delightful parts of our age-old tradition–traditional games–in a grand way by organizing the ‘Chhattisgarhiya Olympics’.
Once upon a time, when children’s mind was not corrupted by mobile and video games, they used to invent their own games using all that was easily available to them at home and surroundings. These games were not only entertaining but also kept children physically fit.
However, now these indigenous games have been replaced by modern ones mainly mobile games, video games, and play station ones. Keeping this in view, the state government felt the need to revive these traditional games which were once popular among the locals.
Chhattisgarh Government led by Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel has taken meaningful measures to promote the folk art, culture, tradition, and ethnic food of the state.
Now taking a step ahead, the government has embarked on the journey to promote the traditional games of Chhattisgarh by organizing a grand multi-sport event–the ‘Chhattisgarhiya Olympic Games’.
The decision was taken in the cabinet meeting held this year on September 6. The responsibility of organizing the ‘Chhattisgarhiya Olympics’ to be held at six levels has been entrusted to the Panchayat and Rural Development and Urban Administration and Development Department.
14 types of traditional games, Two categories–Individual and Team
The traditional sports competition of Chhattisgarh will be held in the team and individual categories. 1
4 types of traditional sports have been included in the Olympic games to be held till January 6 next year.
The games falling under the team category include Gilli Danda, Pitthul, Sankhali, Langdi race, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, and Kancha games. Similarly, games under the Individual category include Billas, Fugdi, Gedi race, Bhaura (Indian spinning top), 100-meters race, and long jump.
Events will be held at six levels from village club level to state level
Sports competitions under the ‘Chhattisgarhiya Olympics’ will be organized at six levels. The first is the village level that will be of ‘Rajiv Yuva Mitan Club’.
The second is the zonal level in which there will be a club comprising 8 Rajiv Yuva Mitan clubs. Similarly, then at the development block / urban cluster level, district level, divisional level, and lastly at the state level.
Besides, there are three age group categories including the first category for participants till the age of 18 years, the second for the participants under 18-40 years of age group, and lastly for participants above 40 years of age.