August 26, 2025
RAJNANDGAON – Come August, a little village in Rajnandgaon opens up into a riot of colour and activity. Every August, the village of Kolihapuri celebrates its annual Sports Festival alongside the Pola festival, marking the end of paddy transplantation. This is a time to rest, rejoice, and reconnect. Under the neem tree, the Youth Sports Committee plans events like alu daud, bail daud, fugdi, matk phod, gedi, tug-of-war and many others. These games are more than entertainment, they are a celebration of unity and grassroots leadership – as men and women come out equally and participate with competitive spirit and enthusiasm.
Through the years, Reliance Foundation has built a warm connection with the people here. From social initiatives to sports, grassroots activities have helped strengthen bonds and strengthen community action. In 2012-13, Reliance Foundation helped form a Village Association, which became the focal point for all development activities. After thoughtful discussions, the members collectively decided to prioritize water as the most urgent need. In addition to supporting the installation of a 2.5 km lift irrigation pipeline, a Water User Group was formed to manage the system collectively, and line sowing was introduced to improve crop productivity.
Alongside agriculture, Reliance Foundation also nurtured community institutions. A Village Association was created, with a Village Development Fund contributed entirely by farmers. Over the past five years, the community has since taken the onus of the responsibility on themselves. The fund that has grown to ₹2.80 lakhs serves as a lifeline during emergencies for farming inputs, medical needs, or unexpected expenses.
Years later, the village now independently manages these initiatives. Over 80 farmers are benefited by the lift irrigation pipeline and many have replicated the system independently. The Water User Group still exists and the community manages the system, ensuring fair access and maintenance. The Village Development Fund today provides interest-free loans for community emergencies. The community engagement continues to thrive, even after Reliance Foundation’s interventions were handed over to the community, showing the community’s ability to lead and sustain their own development.
“We now grow three crops, chana, wheat, and moong. Where once we struggled with one,” says farmer Denish Verma. “Line sowing, introduced by Reliance Foundation, doubled our yields and is now adopted in neighbouring villages.”
Rising incomes have opened new opportunities, children are pursuing higher education, families are actively accessing government schemes and Kolihapuri has become a hub of peer learning for surrounding villages.
During this journey, Reliance Foundation also introduced a new tradition, the village Sports Festival. Celebrated every August marking the end of paddy transplantation, it quickly became a highlight of village life. It is this festival that was organised this year as well.
“I love playing games! Last year I won first prize in Phugdi. I wait all year for Sports Day, it is my favourite day!” says Jaya Verma, a Class 8 student from Kolihapuri. Her excitement reflects the joy of a community where play and progress go hand in hand.
Through the years, the villagers have kept the festival alive, mobilising resources and organising events on their own. More than just entertainment, the festival celebrates unity, teamwork, and grassroots leadership, values that echo across Kolihapuri’s farms, institutions, and daily life.
The Sports festival in Kolihapuri brings the community together with purpose. It’s a space where play meets progress, where bonds are strengthened not just through games, but through shared action. From collaborating on lift irrigation systems to forming water user groups and replicating sustainable farming practices like line sowing across neighbouring villages, the spirit of teamwork extends far beyond the field.
In Kolihapuri, sports unite hearts and ignite change. As the nation gears up for its National Sports Day, villages like Kolihapuri are an example of how health, fitness and togetherness are a symbol of not just one sports day, but an empowered, united community.