At Ajgara, an ancient dialogue comes alive as thousands gather for modern-day ‘Yaksh Samvad’
Their exchanges attracted large crowds and emerged as one of the major attractions of the three-day Ajgara fair, which drew more than 2.5 lakh visitors. The grand finale was the culmination of an extensive district-wide exercise that reached 1,148 gram panchayats and 279 urban wards. More than 1,500 debates were held, involving over one lakh participants in the initial rounds. Through successive stages, the field was narrowed from 1,427 debaters to 36, then 16, and finally the eight finalists who took the stage at Ajgara.
Because of the fair or any associated legend, but because of the dialogue it represents, “Ajgara is significant not merely. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Lucknow | Silver Rate in Lucknow | Bank Holidays in Lucknow | Public Holidays in Lucknow | Lucknow AQI | Weather in Lucknow | Petrol Price in Lucknow | Diesel Price in Lucknow | CNG Price in Lucknow | LPG Price in Lucknow Stay updated with the latest Lucknow news.
“Women may have equality on paper, but social expectations often prevent them from exercising those rights fully,” he said. “Whether a woman chooses a profession, household responsibilities or both, the choice should be hers,” he said, emphasising that social progress should empower individuals rather than prescribe new roles. District magistrate Abhishek Pandey said the event sought to revive India’s long-standing tradition of public discourse and philosophical inquiry. Through Yaksh Samvad, we wanted to create a platform where people could think, question and express their views on issues affecting society,” he said.
But this time, the answers did not come from Yudhishthir. They came from Prajwal Shukla, a govt job aspirant who emerged as the winner of The Great Ajgara Debate: Yaksh Samvad, organised on Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’s 76th birthday. Known for its centuries-old fair and its association with the legendary Yaksh Samvad, Ajgara witnessed a five-hour public conversation on morality, truth, equality, duty and the challenges facing contemporary society. The venue itself provided a symbolic backdrop. The pond, revered locally as the site where the Yaksh is believed to have questioned Yudhishthir on life and ethics, was specially decorated for the occasion. Folk artistes reenacted the famous episode from the Mahabharat, drawing visitors into a story that has inspired philosophical reflection for generations. Just a short distance away, however, a different kind of dialogue unfolded. Eight finalists, selected through multiple rounds conducted across the district, took to the stage to debate questions that continue to shape modern society. Yogesh Pratap Singh, a primary school teacher, finished second, while Sanskrit teacher Rajendra Bahadur Patel came third While Prajwal Shukla secured first place. Sadhana Dwivedi, Vivek Singh, Anupam Maurya, Aastha Dwivedi and Dheeraj Kumar were among the other finalists. One of the most engaging discussions centred on women’s equality and whether genuine empowerment requires a transformation in traditional social attitudes. Vivek Singh argued that legal rights alone cannot guarantee equality if social behaviour remains unchanged. He pointed to the experiences of working women who often perform the bulk of household responsibilities despite pursuing professional careers. He also referred to the phenomenon of elected women representatives whose responsibilities are frequently exercised by male relatives. Prajwal Shukla approached the issue from the perspective of personal choice. The real question, he argued, was not what role society assigns to women, but who has the authority to make those choices. Aastha Dwivedi stressed the importance of women asserting their rights and challenging discrimination. she argued that social transformation would only come when women actively organise and speak for themselves While laws can provide a framework for equality. For the organisers, such disagreements and counter-arguments were precisely the objective. He added that the administration plans to expand the initiative beyond Pratapgarh, with the aim of eventually turning it into an inter-district and later a national-level event. As evening fell, the fairgrounds remained alive with cultural performances, bustling crowds and the festive atmosphere that Ajgara is known for. Yet the day’s most striking spectacle was not a performance or procession. It was the sight of hundreds of people spending hours listening to ordinary citizens debate extraordinary questions. Download the TOI App.
At Ajgara, an ancient dialogue comes alive as thousands gather for modern-day ‘Yaksh Samvad’ At Ajgara, an ancient dialogue comes alive as thousands gather for modern-day ‘Yaksh Samvad’ At Ajgara, an ancient dialogue comes alive as thousands gather for modern-day ‘Yaksh Samvad’ At Ajgara, an ancient dialogue comes alive as thousands gather for modern-day ‘Yaksh Samvad’ At Ajgara, an ancient dialogue comes alive as thousands gather for modern-day ‘Yaksh Samvad’ At Ajgara, an ancient dialogue comes alive as thousands gather for modern-day ‘Yaksh Samvad’ At Ajgara, an ancient dialogue comes alive as thousands gather for modern-day ‘Yaksh Samvad’ At Ajgara, an ancient dialogue comes alive as thousands gather for modern-day ‘Yaksh Samvad’ At Ajgara, an ancient dialogue comes alive as thousands gather for modern-day ‘Yaksh Samvad’ At Ajgara, an ancient dialogue comes alive as thousands gather for modern-day ‘Yaksh Samvad’ At Ajgara, an ancient dialogue comes alive as thousands gather for modern-day ‘Yaksh Samvad’ At Ajgara, an ancient dialogue comes alive as thousands gather for modern-day ‘Yaksh Samvad’ Pratapgarh ( Ajgara ): On the banks of an ancient pond in Pratapgarh, linked to one of the Mahabharat’s most enduring philosophical exchanges, questions echoed once again on Thursday.
