Delhi’s biggest grassroots sports spectacle kicks off today
Team event winners to receive up to Rs 1.75 lakh, while individual gold medallists will be awarded Rs 11,000
Delhi is all set to step into a new sporting chapter with the launch of the Delhi Khel Mahakumbh 2025-26, the capital’s first ever, city wide grassroots sports festival, beginning February 13. Envisioned as a platform where talent meets opportunity, the month-long event seeks to transform Delhi into a breeding ground for future champions while promoting fitness and active lifestyles across the city.
Modelled on the Khelo India framework and aligned with the Fit India Movement, the Mahakumbh — branded as “Khelo Delhi”— is among the largest grassroots sporting initiatives ever undertaken in the National Capital. More than 15,000 athletes have already registered and participation is expected to cross 20,000, with numbers likely to grow in the coming editions.
The competition brings together a diverse pool of participants, including students from Delhi University colleges, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, other universities, as well as athletes from sports clubs, academies and open categories. Registrations have been conducted through a transparent online system, ensuring wide and fair participation.
Events will be held in seven disciplines — athletics, football, wrestling, basketball, volleyball, kabaddi and squash — across 16 major sports complexes and stadiums in Delhi. Iconic venues such as Chhatrasal Stadium, Tyagraj Stadium, Rajiv Gandhi Stadium and the National Stadium will host competitions, with multiple events running simultaneously across the city.
The Mahakumbh is structured through several key components, including the Delhi State School Games, National School Games, Khelo Delhi events and Constituency Games, ensuring that athletes from school level to young professionals find a place to compete.
The opening ceremony on February 13 at Chhatrasal Stadium will set the tone for the festival, with the Chief Minister inaugurating the event. A march past by para athletes will be a centrepiece of the ceremony, reflecting the inclusive spirit of the initiative.
To reward excellence, the government has announced attractive cash prizes under the Khelo Delhi category. Team event winners will receive up to Rs 1.75 lakh, while individual gold medallists will be awarded Rs 11,000, with corresponding prizes for silver and bronze winners.
Beyond competition, the Mahakumbh is closely linked to athlete welfare. Under the Mukhyamantri Khel Protsahan Yojana, the Delhi government has disbursed Rs 35.89 crore over the past two financial years, providing crucial financial support to emerging sportspersons.
Adding star power and inspiration, Olympian Ravi Dahiya, cricketer Shikhar Dhawan and Paralympian Sharad Kumar have been named brand ambassadors of the event.
With packed stadiums, young athletes chasing dreams and the city rallying behind sport, the Delhi Khel Mahakumbh aims to be more than a tournament it seeks to lay the foundation for Delhi’s ambition to emerge as India’s sports capital.
