Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attended the concluding day of the Gadchiroli Festival and flagged off the Maha Marathon 2025, which saw over 14,000 participants competing in races from 3 km to 21 km, alongside cultural events and sports competitions
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis attends the Gadchiroli Festival on Sunday.
Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday attended the concluding day of the Gadchiroli Festival and flagged off the Maha Marathon 2025, which witnessed participation from over 14,000 youth and citizens. The 21-km marathon saw an intense competition, with Roshan Bodalkar of Chamorshi winning the men’s category and Sakshi Poladwar of Aheri claiming the women’s title. Shorter races of 3 km, 5 km, and 10 km were also held, with winners in each category receiving cash prizes, trophies, medals, and certificates. To motivate participants from remote and tribal areas, Fadnavis, along with Gadchiroli Guardian Minister Ashish Jaiswal and other dignitaries, ran alongside the participants in select categories.
The three-day Gadchiroli Festival, held at the Government College of Agriculture, showcased tribal arts, culture, and sports. Events included tribal group dances, the Veer Baburao Shedmake Kabaddi competition, and the Birsa Munda Volleyball tournament. Teams from remote and tribal regions engaged in spirited contests, with winners awarded cash prizes ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 35,000, along with trophies and medals. Evening cultural programmes featured performances by renowned artists such as Suresh Wadkar, Bharat Ganeshpure, Hemangi Kavi, Madhuri Pawar, and local talent.
During the event, Fadnavis also inaugurated 32 four-wheelers for anti-Maoist patrol operations and performed the ‘bhoomipujan (foundation ceremony)’ of a new senior officers’ rest house at the police headquarters. He also released the Gadchiroli Police 2026 table calendar as part of the celebrations.
The marathon route spanned the city, passing ITI Chowk, Reliance Petrol Pump, Cargill Chowk, Indira Gandhi Chowk, Trends Mall, Bodhli Chowk, and returning to the zilla parishad ground.
Participants were provided with T-shirts, hoodies, medals, certificates, and refreshments. Zumba and DJ sessions were arranged to keep morale high, and the event was streamed live on the Gadchiroli Police’s official YouTube channel.
Gadchiroli Marathon showcases youth skills, celebrates tribal culture
The festival and marathon aim to provide a platform for youth from remote and tribal areas to showcase their talent, preserve tribal culture, and access developmental opportunities. Superintendent of Police (SP) Neelotpal, along with deputy SPs, assistant SPs, sub-divisional officers, and other police personnel, ensured the smooth organisation and safety of all events.
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