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Kila Raipur Games: Bending metal rods, mastering 150 kites, artistes enthral Ludhiana audience
Nostalgia also awaited the attendees in Ludhiana in the form of Punjabi folk art being performed at the event, which is being held after a gap of four years.
From bending metal rods, to flying 150 kites simultaneously, the ordinary executing the unimaginable held the audience captive on the second day of the Kila Raipur Games on Saturday,
Nostalgia also awaited the attendees in the form of Punjabi folk art being performed at the event, which is being held after a gap of four years.
The artistes performing the acts are common people who have spent years mastering their craft for their moment in the spotlight and earning the extra buck
One of the performers, 47-year-old Lakha Singh, who bends five-foot long the steel rods simply by pushing them with his neck, had lost his right leg in 1994 after it was stuck under a heavy bag of fertilisers,
“I have four daughters and a son, it was not possible for me to stay at home, I learnt the art at a fair and began displaying it at village gatherings and events,” he said, adding that apart sustaining a livelihood, the support and appreciation from the audience keep him motivated to visit the festivals across Punjab and neighbouring states.
Another big draw, Gurjeet Singh, who weighs just a little over 60 kg, lifted a sack weighing two quintals on his back for over a minute. A labourer working at the Malerkotla grain market, Gurjeet said his finances did not allow him a chance to pursue formal sports such as weightlifting, so he turned his job into a passion and showcased it wherever opportunity presents itself.
Other performers, meanwhile, included Sahib Singh who enthralled the audience by breaking iron chains with his legs; Naresh Singh, who mastered 151 kites scaling the sky in one go; and bike stuntman Amaninder Singh.
Lensmen rue lack of rural scenery
With the event being resurrected after four years, a number of photographers from as far as New Delhi travelled to the city to capture the folk performances and all else. The games having taken up a more modern look, the opportunities to capture the rustic came far and few between.
Deepak Verma, a film professional, said he was looking forward to covering the event with excitement, adding, “As the Games have been formalised to a large extent, there was hardly anything picturesque, apart from the things which are being staged.”
Another lensman Surinder, who was visiting from New Delhi, said he had been attending the Games for the last 15 years, but saw a completely different show this time.
Speaking of the same, organising committee president Surinder Singh Grewal said, “We have tried to keep and support the old flavour as much as we can, we had also invited groups representing the rural culture to exhibit their life skills.”
