'Let's play for peace'

The 12th South Asian Games got underway yesterday at the Indira Ghandhi Athletics Stadium in Assam with a glamorous opening ceremony that reflected the heritage, customs and culture of India while also fostering a sense of togetherness in the people of South Asia.

"I feel privileged and honoured to be here and I welcome all to India, which is well-known for its hospitality. Irrespective of boundaries, we are all from South Asia, which is our home," Indian PM Narendra Modi said in his speech.

"Let's play for peace, let's play for prosperity and let's play with full enthusiasm so that we can remember the games even after it is over. Now I declare the 12th South Asian Games open," said the Indian Prime Minister after Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma and South Asian Olympic Association president N Ramachandran gave brief speeches.

The three-hour long opening ceremony was filled with different displays of lighting, with lasers beaming across the sky. That was in anticipation of the torch being lit up. Lights which resembled flames circled the torch, before former Indian football team captain Baichung Bhutia eventually lit it up. The torch was passed to him by Indian athletes after Olympic bronze medal shooter Gagang Narang entered the venue with the torch.

Apart from the lighting of the torch, there was another remarkable event -- the mixing of water which was brought from seven separate bodies of water across South Asia as a sign of solidarity. Water was collected from Bangladesh's Padma, Afghanistan's Kabul, Pakistan's Sindh, Nepal's Kosi, Sri Lanka's Mahawela, a lake in Maldives and the Brahmaputra in India.

The hosts also showed a presentation of digital India, connected by super highways, with the faces of Indian athletes being reflected on the dais which was set up on the central ground.

The programme began with a performance from the Assam Police orchestra, followed by the entrance of Tikhor -- the baby Rhino who is the Games' mascot -- before a man symbolising the mascot recited India's national anthem. Afterwards the participating nations took part in the march past. The Afghanistan contingent went first and the Indians went last amid heavy applause from the 35,000-capacity stadium.

Bangladesh went second after Afghanistan and 2004 SA Games gold winning swimmer Rubel Rana carried the country's national flag.

Indian squash player and flag-bearer Saurav Goshal took the oath on behalf of the athletes and the lovely theme song of the Games – 'Ei Prithibi Ek Krirangan, Kira Holo Santhir Pragan,' which literally means 'the world is a playground and sport is a place of peace and unity' -- written by prominent lyricist and singer Dr. Bhupen Hazarika was sung by Mouk Hazarika.

The programme also featured some popular songs like 'Vande Mataram' and 'Jai Ho' with the artists performing eye-catching performances. The three-hour long ceremony ended with all the artists performing the theme song, before fireworks lit up the sky.