PU students revel in rural sports

Hubballi: PU students from 21 colleges of the city turned up at the

IBMR College

campus at Akshay Colony on Tuesday, to play

rural sports

.

The students played many rural games at the ‘Gramotsava’, which was organized by the

Rotary Club of Hubballi

. Sources said, “The event was organized at the college to encourage local traditional games, develop team spirit, bonding, build physical and mental strength, and to give students a break from games on mobile phones and TVs.”

The students played goli, bagari, caterpillar, skipping, kunte bille, gonu cheela ota, lagori, tug-of-war, dubba dubbe and chinni dand.

A fashion show, where participants wore village attire, was organized in the evening. “This is the first time that I played Kunte Bille,” said Keerthi Kundgol, a first PU student. Though some students had played rural games in their childhood, many of them had stopped playing such sports.

For participants, the gramotsava was an opportunity to try out such games again. “I would play many rural games when I was in school, but stopped playing them as I grew up. I enjoyed watching the games played by my friends,” said Aishwarya, a second year PU student, and one of the organizers of the event.

“I played goli after many years. I had forgotten some rules of the game. However, I recalled the rules and was able to play the game,” said student Tushar Indikar.

Pallavi Parangi, another first PU student, said, “I played a skipping game that I would play in school. I also played Dubba Dubbe in the sports fest.” The students are of the opinion that games on mobile phones improve the mental ability of participants, while by playing rural games, both the mental and physical ability of participants are developed.

“Students nowadays immerse themselves in mobile phones. The intention of organizing the event is to re-cherish the forgotten rural games. Many students do not have any idea about some rural games,” said Riyaz Basari, executive director of IMBR Group of Institutions.