DARJEELING,: The four-day Darjeeling Melo Tea Fest concluded today with the 11th edition of Darjeeling Hill Marathon, drawing participants from across the globe.
This year’s marathon, which started and ended at the iconic Chowrasta, witnessed participation from around 3,500 runners. Competitors ranged from local athletes to international marathoners with entries from Kenya, Africa, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. “The turnout has been tremendous,” said Darjeeling SP Praween Prakash.
The marathon had five categories. In the 10K Open Run, Puran Rai from Kalimpong won the men’s event, while Anjuli Subba from Sikkim triumphed among the women.
The 10K Police Open Run saw Vithal Wadje from Gorubathan and Puja Mondal from Kolkata clinch the top spots in the male and female categories respectively.
21K Open Run, the most competitive category, saw Kenneth Kimanthi Kinithinji from Kenya and Anjali Kumari from Bihar take the gold in the male and female divisions.
Daniel Cheriyot and Genet Shikur Rashid emerged victorious in the 35-44 age segment of 21K. In the 21K run for above 44 years of age, local runners Dharma Maharjan and Saraswati Rai claimed the first positions in their respective categories.
Runners praised the challenging terrain. “This is a tough route and if one can run here, I believe they can run anywhere in the world. The best part of this race is the stunning natural beauty along the route and the constant encouragement from the local people, who cheer us on throughout the run," said Santoshi Shrestha from Nepal, a participant in the 21K run.
Beyond the marathon, the Melo Tea Fest was a celebration of Darjeeling’s rich heritage. The festival, which began on December 19, featured an array of activities from tea-tasting sessions to cultural performances.
Speaking about the event’s growing popularity, SP Praween Prakash said, “This fest was organized for the people of Darjeeling and their participation was overwhelming. We envision the event becoming a global brand in the coming days and attracting more tourists and boosting the local economy.”
The festival’s finale was a musical treat. Performances by bands like ‘Yellow Hammer’ and ‘Reincarnation’ set the tone during the day, while the evening saw a high-energy performance by ‘Girish and The Chronicles’.