PESA Mahotsav gets off to colourful start

Visakhapatnam: The two‑day PESA (Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas) Mahotsav kicked off on Tuesday at the Port Stadium, drawing officials, athletes, and tribal artisans from across India. The inaugural ceremony began with a ceremonial lighting of the torch, followed by a cultural dance performed by tribal youth from Andhra Pradesh.

Central Panchayati Raj Joint Secretary Mukta Shekhar, Andhra Pradesh Panchayati Raj & Rural Development Commissioner Krishna Teja, and renowned archer and Arjuna Award winner Jyoti Surekha opened the festival.

In her address, Jyoti Surekha said, 'PESA Mahotsav is not just a celebration of our tribal heritage; it is a platform where the nation's youth showcase their sporting prowess alongside the rich craftsmanship of our indigenous communities.'

A total of *68 exhibition stalls* were set up by tribal groups from 10 states ' Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. The stalls featured a wide array of handcrafted items:

Visitors were treated to live demonstrations of weaving, pottery, and bamboo crafting, while cultural troupes performed folk songs and dances throughout the day.

The Kabaddi arena saw 18 teams (10 men, 8 women') from 10 states compete under the Khelo India banner. The matches, which began at dawn, kept spectators on the edge of their seats.

Madhya Pradesh clinched gold, Odisha took silver, and Telangana and Gujarat shared the bronze in men's category.

In Women's category Jharkhand emerged victorious, followed by Madhya Pradesh in second place, while Maharashtra and Odisha secured joint third.

A total of 20 archers (12 men, 8 women) from eight states* participated in the archery competition.
Archery results: men: gold ' Krishna Pingua (Jharkhand); silver ' Badri Lal Meena (Rajasthan); bronze ' Dinesh Murmu (Jharkhand).
Women: gold ' Khushi Nanoma (Rajasthan); silver ' Anuradha Kumari (Jharkhand); bronze ' Ambika Pandey (Odisha).

The day concluded with a vibrant demonstration at the cricket stadium, where athletes from ten states performed a variety of skill displays, including trick shots, agility drills, and traditional sports.

The energetic atmosphere underscored the festival's aim of integrating cultural celebration with sporting excellence. All medal winners will be honoured at the closing ceremony on Wednesday.