Kila Raipur Sports Festival is one of the most important festivals in Punjab. This non religious festival is concentrated on the hilarious and record breaking tasks by the performers who are participating in this rural sports festival. It is not registered as the competition, it is widely known as the festival of fun.
History of Kila Raipur Sports Festival
Almost sixty years ago when the Grewal Sports Association had begun to hold Kila Raipur Sports Festival in rural sports at village Kila Raipur little would have anyone thought that this tournament will become a movement in Punjab. 7000 villages in Punjab are participating in Kila Raipur Sports Festival. Before the Independence of India in 1947 major importance was given only to Kabaddi and wrestling, but after Independence the circle of rural sports also got widened. "Khido Khoondi" was replaced by proper hockey and players from villages, having no facilities beyond uneven grounds to play began to dominate the game.
Objective of Kila Raipur Sports Festival
Kila Raipur Sports Festival is the sports festival for the first habitation of civilised man in rural community that grew out of sheer necessity in ancient era. The need for cultivating individual strength for labour on the fields, the interdependence within the community and need of defence, joint defence against onslaughts of a common foe and dangerous animals must have given birth to sports like wrestling, running, jumping, weightlifting and such performing arts as of measuring strength by holding wrists, twisting hands. Kila Raipur Sports Festival has its importance from ancient era. Kabaddi which is another expression of the same spirit that has become the mother of games in Kila Raipur Sports Festival.
Kila Raipur Sports Festival as a Sports Meet
Kila Raipur Sports Festival is held in Ludhiana every year. It is now a Sports meet. Following Kila Raipur Sports Festival, the Kalgidhar Tournament of Kamalpur has also completed half-a-century. Dhudike`s Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial Sports Fair has completed three decades. Gujarwal, Mullanpur, Sahnewal, Ghungali Rajputana Hambla, Dhamto are flourishing. The small sports meet of Lalto Kalan, Dhurkot, Rauni, Dyalpur, Rurka Kalan, Bhinder Kalan, Duare-ana are gaining stature day by day.
Competition of Kia Raipur Sports Festival
There are three types of competitions held at Kila Raipur Sports Festival. Purely the rural games like Kabaddi, Wrestling, Weight-lifting are the major games played. Modern sports like athletics, hockey, football, volleyball, cycling, handball etc. Some of the performing sports like acrobatics, twisting an iron-rod are played by placing on Adam`s apple, passing tractor over the rib-ease, cracking a big stone by placing it on the chest etc. Now another colour is also being added to these sports fairs.
Cultural Festivals in Kila Raipur Sports Festival
Kila Raipur Sports Festival have got intermixed with folk singing when sun sets. After the day"s sports competitions the notes of music begin to emanate and singing continues, sometimes, late in the night. Music contest is also held at Kila Raipur Sports Festival.
