Huge crowds will be hoping the weather holds out for this year’s Kabaddi and tent-pegging festival on the bank holiday weekend.

The annual Blackburn Kabaddi Mela (festival) has proved popular with people of all ages and backgrounds and will take place throughout the day, on Sunday, August 27, at Pleasington Playing Fields.

This year, the event has added a weightlifting showdown to proceedings and will see people of different weight classes go up against each for the title of ‘Strongest man in Blackburn’.

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Also taking place is the exhibition of tent pegging, a traditional equestrian sport where mounted horseman gallop, pick up and carry away a small ground target.

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Also returning is the entertaining sport of kabaddi, where points are scored for each player tagged by the ‘raider’, who runs into the opposing team's half of a court to touch as many of their players as possible, before trying to return to his own half of the court without being caught.

Asif Mahmud said they were hoping to bring some cheer to locals after a miserable summer for event organisers so far.

He said: “It has been pretty bad for event organisers and we very much hoping we will get some late summer sun.

“What we do notice is a lot of families who are not Asian coming to watch the tent-pegging and we would love to see people back again this year.

"It is wonderful that the sport can be appreciated by people from across communities.

“The event has been made possible by sponsors and it is all volunteer led with people who have a passion for celebrating traditional sports."

Tent pegging begins early with horses and riders due at 10am. This will be followed by a strongman show at 2pm and live entertainment from 4pm.

The Kabaddi will begin at 5pm with Blackburn taking on Birmingham.

Anyone wanting to support the event or volunteer their time can email blackburnkabaddimela2023@yahoo.com.