By More than 1.35 lakh people registered for the ‘Nasha-Mukt Haryana Faridabad Namo Marathon-2026’ in Faridabad, turning the event into a large public campaign centred on drug de-addiction, fitness and healthy living. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini flagged off the marathon from the historic Surajkund on Sunday and urged participants to treat the event as a collective commitment to building a drug-free society.
Saini said the thousands of people taking part were not simply running a race but carrying a wider social message against drug abuse. He called on young people in particular to channel their energy towards sports, education, skills, employment, innovation and other constructive activities rather than narcotics. Participants competed in 21-km, 10-km and 5-km categories, with people from different age groups and sections of society joining the event.
Marathon becomes platform for anti-drug message
The event brought together youngsters, women, senior citizens, students, athletes and residents from different parts of the region. The large turnout gave the campaign a broader public-health and social dimension, with participants encouraged to promote healthy lifestyles alongside the message of staying away from drugs.
Saini said Haryana’s identity should be associated with hard work, sporting achievements and determination rather than substance abuse. He urged young people to firmly reject drugs and use their abilities to pursue their ambitions.
According to the Chief Minister, drug abuse affects not only an individual’s health but can also disrupt families and create wider social problems. He said preventing addiction therefore required participation from families, educational institutions and communities in addition to government agencies.
Saini administers anti-drug pledge
During the programme, Saini administered a pledge to participants, asking them to stay away from drugs and contribute to creating a drug-free society.
Those present pledged to avoid substance abuse themselves and encourage their family members, friends and others in their communities to do the same.
Saini said the fight against drugs could not be left solely to the government or police. He urged parents and teachers to maintain open communication with children and remain alert to signs of substance abuse.
He also emphasised that seeking help for addiction should not be viewed as a weakness, but as a step towards recovery and a healthier life.
Fitness and healthy living at the heart of event
The marathon also sought to promote physical activity and fitness across age groups. The participation of young people, women and senior citizens was highlighted by the organisers as an example of broader community involvement.
Saini encouraged participants to adopt regular exercise and healthy habits, linking physical fitness with the larger objective of keeping young people away from drugs.
He said Haryana’s young population has traditionally contributed to the state’s reputation in sports and that the same energy could be directed towards education, skills, employment and other productive fields.
Campaign linked to wider government outreach
Saini linked the marathon’s anti-drug message with the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, which, according to the government, is being conducted from September 17 to October 17 to mark 25 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public service.
He said the message of the ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva–Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan’ was being taken to people through different programmes.
The Chief Minister also referred to the Haryana Uday initiative, through which the government says awareness about drug de-addiction is being taken to districts and villages across the state.
He urged families facing addiction-related problems to seek assistance without hesitation.
Large turnout becomes key feature of marathon
The government said the event saw more than 1.35 lakh registrations, with nearly all registered participants turning up at the venue.
Saini described the participation as evidence of strong public engagement with the campaign. The marathon brought together people across age groups and backgrounds under a common theme of drug prevention, fitness and social responsibility.
He said the objective was to ensure that the message emerging from Faridabad reaches other districts, villages and households across Haryana.
Winners across marathon categories
The competitive events also saw participants compete in different distance categories.
In the 21.1-km men’s category, Prashant Chaudhary finished first, followed by Vikram Singh as first runner-up and Anuj Meena as second runner-up.
In the 21.1-km women’s category, Sonika won the race, while Manav Rana finished first runner-up and Bhumika took the second runner-up position.
In the 10-km men’s category, Rohit Kumar secured first place, with Gaurav finishing first runner-up and Nishant Karhana second runner-up.
In the 10-km women’s category, Neeru Rani finished first, followed by Sonia Upadhyay and Reema Patel in the first and second runner-up positions respectively.
Ministers, MLAs and citizens attend
The event was attended by Union Minister Krishan Pal Gurjar, Haryana Revenue Minister Vipul Goyal, Minister of State for Food and Supplies Rajesh Nagar, Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam, Ballabhgarh MLA Mool Chand Sharma, Badkhal MLA Dhanesh Adlakha, NIT Faridabad MLA Satish Phagna, Chief Minister’s Media Adviser Rajiv Jaitley, along with other public representatives, athletes, young people, women, senior citizens and residents.
The marathon ultimately combined competitive running with a wider public-awareness campaign. Saini said the broader goal was to build a Haryana where young people remain free from addiction and have greater opportunities to pursue sport, education, skills and employment.
The message promoted at the event was summed up by the Chief Minister as a collective commitment: “No drugs, only the light of dreams — our Haryana, a drug-free Haryana.”
