Naxalbari, 13th December: The 12-day-long ‘Sansad Khel Mahotsav’ was inaugurated in Naxalbari under the initiative of Darjeeling Lok Sabha MP Raju Bista, aiming to promote sports, fitness, and a drug-free lifestyle among the youth.
The sports festival commenced at the Naxalbari Adivasi Ground, where events such as musical chairs, running races, and tug-of-war were organised as part of the programme. A large number of participants and spectators were seen taking part in the opening day’s activities.
Darjeeling MP Raju Bista was present at the event along with SSB Siliguri Frontier Inspector General Bandan Saxena, BJP MLAs Shankar Ghosh, Durga Murmu, and Anandamoy Barman, among other dignitaries.
Adding to the enthusiasm, MP Raju Bista himself participated in the tug-of-war event, interacting with players and encouraging participants.
Addressing the gathering, the MP said that this is the first edition of the Sansad Khel Mahotsav, with around 1,000 participants taking part in the initial phase. He stated that the initiative aims to keep both individuals and society healthy while motivating the youth to stay away from substance abuse.
According to the organisers, nearly 20,000 participants have already registered to take part in the festival so far. The Sansad Khel Mahotsav will continue until December 25, featuring various sports and recreational activities over the coming days.