Sri Vijaya Puram, April 20: The XVI Inter Village Hodi Race (Canoe Race) Championship 2026 was held at Chukchucha Village in Car Nicobar on Saturday, bringing together local communities for a traditional sporting event rooted in Nicobarese culture.
Organised as part of the Tribal Culture Games, the championship witnessed participation from multiple villages, reflecting the continued relevance of indigenous sporting traditions in the Nicobar region. The event featured semi-final and final races, drawing spectators and competitors from across the island.
Chief Secretary Chandra Bhushan Kumar attended the event as the chief guest and flagged off the semi-finals and finals. The programme was also attended by Deputy Commissioner Amit Kale, Superintendent of Police Rahul L. Nair, and AC (HQ)/PO (ITDP) Naveen Kumar, among other officials.
The canoe race, a long-standing cultural and competitive activity in the Nicobar Islands, served as a platform for community participation and preservation of traditional practices. Villagers gathered in large numbers to witness the races, highlighting the significance of the event beyond sport.
Following the championship, officials held a meeting with residents of Car Nicobar, members of the Tribal Council, and Heads of Offices and Departments. During the interaction, villagers raised various local issues and grievances, which were discussed with the administrative officials present.
The Chief Secretary directed concerned departments to address the issues raised during the meeting in coordination with the Deputy Commissioner of Nicobar District. The instructions aimed at ensuring timely resolution of matters highlighted by the community.
In a separate initiative linked to tribal development, the administration handed over 100 books to the Chairman of the Tribal Council, Car Nicobar. The distribution was carried out under the Integrated Tribal Development Programme (ITDP), with a focus on supporting educational access and knowledge resources for tribal communities in the district.
Officials stated that the engagement reflected ongoing efforts to combine cultural preservation with administrative outreach. The canoe race event and the subsequent meeting were positioned as part of broader initiatives to strengthen interaction between local communities and the administration.
The programme concluded with participation from community members and officials, marking both a cultural gathering and an administrative interface in Car Nicobar.
