Participants at a carnival at Aqua World in Ranchi on Friday. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, Jan. 2: The six-day carnival at Aqua World in the state capital ended today with a host of programmes and shower of prizes.

Men, women and children of all age groups were seen having a blast at Carnival 2009.

“This was the ninth edition of the New Year carnival organised here, but never before had we registered such a huge crowd. What was surprising is this year, even the elderly participated in the contests. Today, the footfall was 6,000,” said Pratul Shahdeo, the director of Aqua World.

The day’s programme started with the maha petu competition, where participants had to demonstrate the limits of their appetites. Though organised for people of all age groups, it was a huge hit among kids. Raj and and Dipankar Kumar, both school students, were the winners. They finished a packet of popcorn and washed it down with a bottle of cold drink and an ice cream. If the just-a-minute event made an interesting sight with couples having to feed each other a candy floss, the couple dance competition was equally romantic.

There was the best kiosk prize, too. Among the 55 kiosks set up at the carnival, roots to wing school, also a co-sponsor of the carnival, was adjudged first for its highest involvement in the event while the kiosks of Jharkhand AIDS Control Society and Eureka Forbes stood second and third respectively.

Manoj Naredi, the president of the Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce, who was the chief guest of the closing day ceremony, said: “Such programmes help enhance one’s sporting spirit. ”