20,000 participants competing across 18 traditional Indian sports: Skill Development, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha
FinTech BizNews Service
Mumbai, August 13, 2025: Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Shri Manikrao Kokate today announced that the state government will tr y and work towards granting Shiv Chhatrapati Awards, government benefits, and official appointments to athletes excelling in traditional Indian sports. He was speaking at the inauguration of the Olympicveer Khashaba Jadhav Paramparik Krida Mahakumbh, held at Kurla. The event also marked the inauguration of the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Traditional Sports Ground.
The demand to extend government benefits to players preserving India’s traditional outdoor games — a vital part of the nation’s cultural heritage — was put forward by Skill Development, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minister Shri Mangal Prabhat Lodha, who conceptualised the Mahakumbh. The event is being organised at the Jam Saheb Mukadam Vocational Education and Training Centre’s newly inaugurated ground in memory of Rajmata Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar.
The inaugural programme was attended by Smt. Madhavi Sardeshmukh, Director of the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training; Mumbai Suburban District Collector Shri Saurabh Katiyar; Treasurer of Kreeda Bharati Shri Ganeshji Devrukhkar; Mumbai President Shri Milind Dange; and Shri Ranjit Jadhav, son of Olympian Khashaba Jadhav.
The festivities opened in a vibrant atmosphere, with the beats of traditional Maharashtrian dhol and lezim. In a special message, Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis lauded the initiative, noting that in today’s technology-driven age — where children’s physical activity is rapidly declining — reviving traditional sports is both timely and important. He congratulated Shri Lodha and his department for their efforts to promote games that keep both body and mind healthy, describing the initiative as a valuable step in preserving Maharashtra’s cultural legacy.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Lodha recalled that Maharashtra’s own Olympian and wrestling legend Khashaba Jadhav secured an Olympic medal for the country against all odds. He stressed that competitions for traditional sports should be held annually in Jadhav’s name, and participating athletes should be granted government concessions.
Building on this, Shri Kokate announced that the state would organise such competitions every year at the government level. He highlighted Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s initiatives — such as International Yoga Day — that helped bringing Indian heritage on global stage. Kokate said, Initiatives such as paramparik krida Mahakumbha could help steer today’s youth away from excessive virtual entertainment towards healthier pursuits. He also revealed that the government would consider recognising traditional sports and athletes officially, and that a meeting would soon be convened to explore making games like langdi, skipping rope, and lagori compulsory in primary schools.
The opening day featured captivating demonstrations of lathi-kathi, mallakhamb, and sword fighting. Shri Ranjit Jadhav praised the Mahakumbh as a commendable effort to attract the youth towards traditional games.
The Mahakumbh will run until August 22, featuring 20,000 participants competing across 18 traditional Indian sports.
