The Pragativadi Sports Festival 2025, aimed at promoting sports as an essential component of a healthy and disease-free lifestyle, was formally inaugurated today at the Pragativadi office premises. The month-long sports extravaganza will continue until 31 December 2025.
Senior officer of the Indian Information Service and Assistant Director of the Central Bureau of Communication, Pradeep Kumar Choudhury, inaugurated the festival as the chief guest, while international volleyball referee Sudarshan Pattnayak attended as the special guest.
National Youth Project convener and volunteer Madhu Bhai delivered the keynote address. Justice Manoranjan Mohanty, Chairman of the Gandhi Peace Foundation, graced the occasion as the guest of honour.
The inaugural ceremony was presided over by the Executive Director of Pragativadi, Dr Mona Lisa Bal.
Among the distinguished guests were former member of Odisha State Commission for Women Sasmita Nanda, National Youth Project’s Dharmendra Bhai, environmental expert Farzan Khan and others. The programme began with the national anthem and Vande Mataram rendered by Nimaicharan Nanda.
Organised under the coordination of Pragativadi News head Santosh Das, the event witnessed a welcome address by the head of Pragativadi Sports Department Manoranjan Das. The ceremonial lamp was lit by the dignitaries. Captains of the four teams of Pragativadi Premier League – Biswaranjan Sahoo, Umashankar Jena, Saroj Barik and Nabakishore Behera – received the flame from the guests and passed it to all players, marking the official launch of the sports festival. At the end, festival coordinator Prof. Dr Namita Pattnayak proposed the vote of thanks.
Pragativadi’s Nayagarh district correspondent, Subash Mohapatra, Khordha correspondent Narayan Chandra Mohanty and Debaraj Sahoo also attended as special guests.
School and college-level competitions in chess, carrom, table tennis, badminton and musical chairs will begin from 15 December.
