Nagpur: Reshimbagh Ground will thunder to the beat of thousands of drums on Sunday as around 3,500 dhol-tasha performers from 55 troupes across Vidarbha come together for a synchronised ‘Maha-Vadan’, the centrepiece of the grand finale of Manthan4Yuva Nagpur 2026.Organisers are aiming to set a world record during the mass performance, which will unfold before an expected gathering of nearly 25,000 youths. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis will attend the event as chief guest. The event is scheduled to begin at 9.30am. The spectacle will bring dhol-tasha groups from Nagpur and several other parts of Vidarbha onto a single ground, with thousands of performers playing together in rhythm.The event will also see participation of sportspersons, entrepreneurs, and artists. Cricketer Tilak Varma, chess player Divya Deshmukh, and podcaster Raj Shamani are among those expected to attend. Badminton player Malvika Bansod, boxer Alfiya Khan Pathan, entrepreneurs, innovators and young achievers from different fields are also on the guest list.The event will mark the culmination of a month-long campaign organised by Jan Manthan from July 23 to Aug 23, bringing together students, young professionals, innovators, entrepreneurs and cultural groups through a mix of competitions, exhibitions and technology-focused events.Activities held during the campaign included the ‘Know Your Icon’ competition, Patent Fest, science exhibition, ‘Viksit Nagpur’ Hackathon, Startup Fest and contests in painting, dance, singing, elocution, poetry, photography and reel-making. Winners from various competitions will be felicitated during the finale.A musical segment featuring singer-composer Puneet Kushwaha and singer Sneha Umredkar has also been planned. Organisers Vishnu Changde and Ritesh Gavande said the finale is intended to bring different strands of youth participation — from technology and innovation to sport, art and traditional culture — onto one platform, with the massive dhol-tasha performance providing its loudest and most visually striking conclusion.
