A quirky contest titled ‘Vehle Rehan Da Muqabla’ (competing to stay idle) has taken Punjab’s countryside by storm. First organised by a youngster at Gehal village in the Mehal Kalan Assembly constituency of Barnala district, the unusual idea is now inspiring other villages to host their own editions. The video of the first event has crossed two million views on Instagram.

The brain behind the trend, Gurjit Singh, a registered medical practitioner and YouTuber, said the idea was born out of a desire to create some fun while encouraging people to stay away from their mobile phones. At the Gehal event, participants were required to sit idle--no phones, no games, no washroom breaks or even sleep breaks.

The entry fee was fixed at Rs 100 and the prize money was Rs 4,500 for the last person si

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