Nabarangpur, Nov 27: Lok Sabha MP Balabhadra Majhi inaugurated the Sansad Khel Mahotsav 2025 at Dahna village under Nandahandi block in Odisha’s Nabarangpur district on Thursday.

Majhi lit the ceremonial torch at the Shiva temple in Dahna before leading a procession to the venue, marking the beginning of a vibrant sports festival across the region.

In his address, MP Balabhadra Majhi emphasized the importance of sports in maintaining physical and mental well-being. He noted that the Mahotsav would help identify hidden sporting talent across rural areas.

The Mahotsav, which began on 21 September, will continue until 25 December with a grand closing ceremony. So far, 4,935 participants from 21 blocks of the Nabarangpur Lok Sabha constituency have registered to compete.

The sports festival will feature football, volleyball, cricket, long jump, high jump, athletics, kabaddi, and kho-kho. A mini marathon is scheduled in Nabarangpur town on 25 December as part of the celebrations.

Panchayat and block-level competitions will conclude by 20 December, with successful athletes advancing to district-level contests on 21–23 December. The final district event on 25 December will honour outstanding performers, with the Prime Minister expected to deliver a special address through video conference.

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The inauguration ceremony today included a 10-over cricket match between Dahna and Mentri Gram Panchayat teams, with Dahna emerging victorious by 5 runs. The event drew wide participation from district officials, sports association members, local representatives, students, media, and villagers, reflecting the community’s enthusiasm for sports and youth empowerment.

The opening ceremony witnessed the presence of several dignitaries including Kotpad MLA Rupu Bhatra, District Collector Dr. Maheshwar Swain, Additional Collector Biswajit Barman, Zilla Parishad member Arun Mishra, social worker Kunj Bihari Das, District Sports Association Secretary Arjun Tripathy, MP representative Somanath Pujari, Jyoti Ranjan Kans, BDO Kshirod Chandra Sahu, Sansad Khel Coordinator Rameshwar Jena, and Dahna Sarpanch Kamala Pujari.