Srinagar, Oct 13: Emphasising the role of sports in steering young people away from drug abuse, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Armed J&K, Nitish Kumar, on Tuesday called upon the youth to embrace sporting activities as a means of maintaining physical fitness, building mental resilience and adopting a healthy, disciplined lifestyle.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the three-day water sports festival ‘Jashn-e-Dal 2026’ at the back lawns of the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, Nitish Kumar said sports provide young people with a constructive avenue for engagement and help promote discipline, teamwork, confidence and camaraderie.
The festival, organised by Jammu and Kashmir Police under its Civic Action Programme (CAP), will continue until October 15 and features a diverse range of water sports and traditional competitions aimed at encouraging sporting talent and strengthening police-public relations.
Urging the younger generation to stay away from drugs and actively participate in sports, the ADGP stressed the need for collective efforts to build a drug-free Jammu and Kashmir.
He said sporting activities could play an important role in channelising the energy of young people towards productive pursuits while encouraging them to develop healthy habits and a spirit of discipline.
“Sports are a powerful medium to keep youth away from drugs,” Nitish Kumar said, highlighting the importance of physical activity in helping young people cope with stress and anxiety and remain physically and mentally fit.
He also called upon participants to take part in the competitions with enthusiasm and uphold the spirit of sportsmanship, irrespective of the outcome.
The inaugural ceremony was marked by the formal flag-off of the event by ADGP, who attended as the chief guest. Tri-colour balloons were released to mark the commencement, while decorated Shikaras carrying cultural contingents added colour to the proceedings at Dal Lake.
According to officials, the festival features 20 categories and 46 competitions, providing participants with a platform to showcase their sporting abilities, technical skills, teamwork and competitive spirit.
The events include canoeing, kayaking, long- and short-distance swimming, rowing and sculling, traditional Donga boat races, flat-water canoe and kayak head-to-head races, dragon boat racing and Shikara racing.
The three-day festival seeks to promote healthy competition, community participation and sporting excellence while bringing people together through recreational and competitive activities associated with Kashmir’s iconic Dal Lake.
The initiative also reflects J&K Police’s efforts to engage young people through community-oriented programmes and encourage alternatives to drug abuse by promoting sports and other constructive activities.
Several senior police officers attended the inaugural ceremony, including Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone Sujit Kumar, Deputy Inspector General of Police Central Kashmir Range Rajiv Omprakash Pandey, DIG Armed Kashmir Range Maqsood-ul-Zaman, DIG IR Kashmir Range Mubassir Latifi and Srinagar SSP G. V. Sundeep Chakravarthy, besides other officers and representatives of the Canoeing and Kayaking Association J&K.
The concluding ceremony is scheduled for October 15, when winners and participating teams will be felicitated.
