Imphal, March 11: It is a cocktail of sport, entertainment and Manipur’s own “Pogo games” for the kids.

Yaoshang (Holi) is not a new thing in Manipur. This year, however, the organisers of the sports festival held in every locality in the valley introduced more interesting games or rather competitions.

Games like ball-breaking, brick race, water-pot race, sack race are keeping away children from sprinkling colours and seeking donations, a part of the festival, as they gathered at their local grounds.

The children call such games “Pogo games”.

Yaoshang or Yaoshang sports festival is organised in almost all the localities in the valley as part of Holi.

Manipur celebrates the festival for five days and the sport events continue till the last day of the festival.

Apart from serious disciplines like 100-metre race, 200-metre race, marathon, football, new entertaining items were introduced to ensure more participation in the programmes.

For the aged competitions like putting chandan on forehead and ridge of the nose without a mirror or race of women with water-filled pots on their heads have been introduced as added attractions.

Chandan is part of religious life of Vaishnavite Meiteis and without this no one attends a wedding or religious events.

“Manipur is already a sports power house. We want to groom young children to be sportspersons as well as healthy and good citizens. We have introduced the entertainment items to attract young boys and girls,” Khangembam Bimol, secretary of Cachar Road Athletics Union, one of the organisers of the sports festival in Imphal West, said.

Sorokhaibam Thoi Devi, a Class VII student, was the star in the sports festival organised by Loukham Leirak Welfare Association, a youth club of Imphal West.

She got Rs 100 in cash today after she managed a clean hit on the earthen pot put up atop a pole in the blind hit contest. In this game, a blindfolded competitor has to hit a pot after walking about 10 to 15 feet.

Thoi won second spot in slow cycle race and third in sack race

In brick race, one partner runs or walks on two bricks laid by his or her partner.

“It’s real fun participating in the games. It’s something like Pogo games we see on TV,” Kh Naocha, an eight-year-old, said.

The organisers of the festivals collected donations from the local residents. They contribute amounts ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 5,000.

Others donated uniforms and prizes in memory of their departed loved ones. Prizes include exercise books, pens, students’ geometrical equipment, cash prizes, towels and other items.

“We are holding the first sports festival. Our aim is to allow the children have quality time and taste success after a hard competition. Another aim is to make children good sportspersons,” Th. Shanta, secretary of Loukham Leirak Welfare Association, said.