‘Gundurayi Lepudu Poti’ enthralls audience

Chirala: The traditional and rural game of lifting a heavy round boulder with bare hands was conducted by Srikrishna Yadava Yuvajana Sangham in the Poleramma temple of Savarapalem in Eepurupalem in Prakasam district on Sunday.

“The Gundurayi Lepudu poti is being held in the village as part of Sankranthi festival celebrations, to practice tradition and inspire youth on fitness,” announced the organisers.

Thousands of people gathered in the temple ground to witness the game of rural India for ages. The competition was held in the senior and junior categories. The seniors should lift a round stone weighing 120 kilograms multiple times under five minutes. The juniors should try their luck with a 50-kilogram stone boulder. Those who lift the stone the maximum number of times would be announced as the winners.

With organisers announcing that they do not take responsibility for any injuries, the number of youth coming forward to participate in the competition was reduced to just 15 in both the categories.

In the seniors, Gorla Gopi lifted the 120 kilogram stone 18 times in the given 5 minutes of time while in the juniors, Subbu Yadav lifted the 50 kilogram stone 26 times in the same duration and become winners and received accolades from the audience.