Here’s Why You Should Watch the Indian Rural Olympics At Least Once in Your Life

Officially commenced in 1896, the revered Olympic Games, held every four years, find their roots in ancient Greece. A little over 30 years later, began the 4-day Rural Olympics in India, still not as well known. The last Olympic Games organised in Rio saw over 11,000 athletes from 207 nations participating. In our very own desi games, on the other hand, you’ll see teenagers, pensioners and sometimes even horses and dogs competing in various sporting events. Formally known as the Kila Raipur Sports Festival, it is organised every winter in Kila Raipur, a small town on the outskirts of Ludhiana, Punjab. Here are 6 reasons why you should get excited about this event and plan your next trip to Ludhiana around the same time:

Witness Sports You’ve Never Heard Of

The Rural Olympics are a celebration of rural Indian culture wherein competitions are held over four days. The sports particularly include horse racing, being run over by a tractor, horseback riding and acrobatics, demonstrations of strength and many other never-heard-of ‘sports’.

Read more: Back to the Roots: Rural Experiences in India Worth Savouring

The Events Range from Nail-Biting Exciting to Jaw-Dropping Bizarre

Till some years ago, the highlight of the festival it was the bullock cart race, which was discontinued post Supreme Court’s ruling to ban races that terrify and injure animals. The most interesting, however, is the competition where people show their strength not through a round of the usual heavyweight lifting or boxing, but by pulling vehicles with their hair, holding bicycles in their teeth, picking up a plow with their mouth, and so on.

Ancient Indian Martial Arts on Display  

You’ve heard of Judo, Karate, Taekwondo, Jitsu and many other martial art forms. How about Gatka? Well, this is a Sikh martial art form that local Sikh men perform for strength as well as spirituality. It is an ancient martial art that dates back thousands of years.

Every Event Here is “Offbeat”

Enough of gymnastics and aquatics. Give way to these feats — horse races, horse riding where a man dares to ride two horses simultaneously, a greyhound race, a tractor race, a tug-of-war match between local villagers, a tire rolling competition, and a 100-metre race for octogenarians.

The Energy of the Crowds is Infectious

In February each year, millions of spectators throng Ludhiana from all over the world and India for this sporting festival. Most of them have never seen such a cultural spectacle before. It is a proud moment for Punjab, and the village of Kila Raipur attracts more than 4000 sportspeople to the games, including some well-known sporting names. The winners get rewarded with a coveted cash prizes. The stadium can accommodate over 50,000 spectators.

Read more: The Most Breathtaking Himalayan Villages to Explore in India

Vibrant Cultural Performances

Any event in Punjab cannot be complete without a cultural performance and savouring of their finest and rich delicacies. At the end of each day’s sporting affair, spectators get to hear top folk singers and bhangra and gidda performances.

When: February 

Where: Grewal Sports Stadium in Kila Raipur, Punjab. Kila Raipur is a 30-minute-drive from Ludhiana.  

Best place to stay: Ludhiana has various luxury, mid-range and budget hotels. Most also provide transport to Kila Raipur, on the outskirts of the city.  

Tickets: The tickets are available online closer to the games. 

How to get there safely: There is a daily flight from New Delhi to Ludhiana. From there, hire a cab to reach Kila Raipur (20 kilometres from Ludhiana) via road. 

Smart tip: Add a day to your itinerary and visit Amritsar to seek blessings at the Golden Temple.