PM Modi in attendance as 38th National Games' opening ceremony kicks off

The 38th National Games in Uttarakhand feature colourful ceremonies, top athletes, and a focus on eco-friendly practices.

A colourful opening ceremony showcasing Uttarakhand's religious heritage and bio-diversity marked the start of the 38th National Games on Tuesday (January 28, 2025) as around 10,000 athletes geared up to compete for podium finishes across 32 disciplines.

The Games will run till February 14 and events will be held across seven cities of the hill state with Dehradun being the main venue. Around 450 gold medals, and a similar number of silver and bronze medals are at stake.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived at the stadium along with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and will inaugurate the Games in a short while.

An estimated 25,000 spectators have packed the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium despite the chilly weather to catch the ceremony live.

The PM Modi had also opened the last two editions of the Games in 2022 (Gujarat) and 2023 (Goa).

After taking a round of the stadium on a decked-up golf cart, Modi was presented a traditional cap, shawl and a memento containing replicas of Games mascot 'Mauli' and the medals.