The first Janjatiya Khel Mahotsav kicked off at the KIIT on Friday. This grand sporting extravaganza, set to conclude on June 12, has attracted participation of about 5,000 tribal athletes and 1,000 officials hailing from 26 States. The event is a joint initiative of the Union Ministry of Culture and the Odisha Government.
The opening ceremony was graced by Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and KIIT and KISS founder Dr Achyuta Samanta.
The speakers said KIIT and KISS were the natural choices to host the event.
Dr Samanta emphasised the unique nature of the event, highlighting its intersection of sports and culture, tribal communities and sports and the fusion of tradition and modernity.