Chandigarh: Ludhiana’s Kila Raipur Rural Olympics witnessed the return of the traditional bullock cart race after a gap of 11 years, drawing large crowds and enthusiastic participation.
The event was inaugurated at 12 noon by Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian. In the first round, 28 bullock carts competed in seven stages. Winners from each round will advance to the second round scheduled for Tuesday.
Organisers said nearly 72 bullock carts have registered for the competition, which will run for three days till February 19. Spectators said they had been waiting for over a decade for the revival of the race.
Winners will be awarded prizes in three categories. The first prize is ₹2.5 lakh, the second ₹1.90 lakh and the third ₹1.30 lakh.
Apart from the bullock cart race, competitions in hockey, kabaddi, athletics and other traditional sports are also being held. Participants aged between five and 90 years are taking part, adding to the scale and excitement of the annual rural sporting event.
Punjabi singer Sukhwinder Sukhi is scheduled to perform in the evening, while cultural performances and displays will continue throughout the day.
