Tribal women performing Dhimsa dance at the inauguration of PESA Mahotsav in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: V. RAJU
The two-day Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Mahotsav has begun with a great fanfare at the Visakhapatnam Port Stadium in the city on Tuesday (23 December, 2025).
The Union Ministry of Panchayat Raj in association with A.P. State Panchayat Raj Department jointly organised the event which was inaugurated by Union Ministry Joint Secretary Mukta Shekhar, A.P. Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department Commissioner Krishna Teja, and archer and Arjuna Award recipient Jyothi Surekha.
They also formally inaugurated the 68 stalls set up by tribals from various States and viewed the products and traditional dishes on display. The stalls featured products from Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.
They also included Kondapalli and Etikoppaka toys, Mangalagiri and Venkatagiri sarees, handloom products, traditional food items, and bamboo chicken from Andhra Pradesh.
On the other hand, as part of the event, 18 teams from 10 States participated in the Khelo India competitions. Ten men’s teams and eight women’s teams participated. In the men’s category, Madhya Pradesh emerged as the winner, while Odisha was the runner-up, and Telangana and Gujarat teams secured third place.
In the women’s category, Jharkhand was the winner, and Madhya Pradesh was the runner-up. Odisha also secured a place in the top three.
Archers from various States in action during a competition as part of the PESA Mahotsav in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit:
V. RAJU
In the archery competition, 20 players from eight States participated. 12 men and 8 women showcased their talent. In the men’s individual category, Krishna Pingua from Jharkhand won the gold medal, and Badri Lal Meena from Rajasthan won the silver medal. Dinesh Murmu from Jharkhand secured third place and won the bronze medal.
In the women’s individual category, Khushi Nanoma from Rajasthan won the gold medal, and Anuradha Kumari from Jharkhand won the silver medal. Ambika Pandey from Odisha secured third place and won the bronze medal. The prizes will be presented to the winners by the guests at the closing ceremony at the Port Kalavani Auditorium on Wednesday (24 December).
In the evening, demonstration sports competitions were held at the cricket stadium. Players from ten states showcased various stunts and skills.
Published – December 23, 2025 07:59 pm IST
