Jarkhar: The ‘Mecca’ of rural sports

Punjab: Started nearly four decades ago, the Zarkhar Khel Mahotsav has become one of the most important annual events for rural sports enthusiasts. Held in the quaint village of Zarkhar, located on the Ludhiana-Malerkotla road, 15 km from Ludhiana, the festival has become an inspiration for promoting sports in rural India. Started in 1986 on a small playground with a modest budget of Rs 1,200, the festival has grown into a major event with widespread popularity. Over the years, it has attracted participants and spectators from neighbouring villages and districts, promoting competition, sportsmanship and community spirit. Today, the event is held at the Mata Sahib Kaur Sports Complex, a state-of-the-art stadium built at a cost of Rs 6 crore, equipped with modern facilities to host a variety of sports. The festival features a diverse range of sports, from traditional sports to Olympic sports, including kabaddi, wrestling, hockey, volleyball, handball, basketball, cycling, tug of war and athletics. Due to its wide scope, it has earned the nickname of “Modern Rural Mini Olympics”.
The Mata Sahib Kaur Sports Complex is equipped with three large podiums, over 30 rooms, a gym, a photo gallery, a hi-tech office and a studio room. It is the only stadium in the region to have floodlights, allowing spectators to watch six different sports (hockey, kabaddi, football, basketball, athletics and handball) simultaneously from any corner of the venue. The stadium also has a blue astroturf surface, which is used for events such as the annual Khel Mahotsav and the Prithvipal Singh Memorial Hockey League. The Mata Sahib Kaur Sports and Charitable Trust, which organises the festival, has installed life-size statues of legendary sports personalities such as the Flying Sikh Milkha Singh, hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, Olympians Prithvipal Singh, Surjit Singh and Udham Singh, sports promoter Amarjit Singh Grewal and kabaddi star Manak Jodhan. Jagroop Singh Zarkhar, the chief organiser of the Zarkhar Khel Mahotsav, said the festival also led to the establishment of the Zarkhar Hockey Academy in April 2006. The academy provides training to talented players from underprivileged families, with more than 300 players having honed their skills over the past decade.

Currently, 80 aspiring hockey players are receiving coaching, and many of the academy’s graduates have gone on to play in various tournaments or secured government jobs under the sports quota. “More than 60 players from the academy have participated in various-level tournaments, and about 40 trainees have secured government jobs so far,” said Jagroop Singh, the academy’s director. Apart from its sporting events, the Zarkhar Khel Mahotsav has also become a cultural hub, attracting some of the biggest names in Punjabi music over the years. Performers like Gurdas Maan, Harbhajan Maan, Diljit Dosanjh, Jazzy B, Manmohan Waris, Debi Makhsoospuri, Harjit Harman, Kanwar Grewal and more graced the stage, adding to the excitement and entertainment quotient of the event. The success of the festival has not only promoted sports but also helped preserve traditional rural sports, which are an integral part of India’s cultural heritage. By providing a platform to rural youth to showcase their talent, the Zarkhar Khel Mahotsav has inspired many to pursue a career in sports, making it a must-attend event for both sports and music lovers.