In Punjab’s Moga district, the quiet village of Gholian Khurd became the centre of attention after it hosted a rather unusual contest, a sitting-still marathon. This was not a test of strength or speed; it was a test of patience, discipline, and sheer mental control.
The rule was simple yet extremely tough: Sit continuously without eating, drinking, sleeping, moving, using the phone, or even going to the washroom. Whoever stays seated the longest wins.
Fifty-five contestants from across Punjab took part, but by the end, only three young men were able to endure the challenge.
The competition began at 11 a.m. on Sunday. As hours passed, through daylight, evening, and deep into the night, participants began dropping out one by one. By the 24-hour mark, fatigue had taken over most of them.
But three contestants kept going.
Finally, after completing 31 hours and 4 minutes of continuous sitting, two participants were declared joint winners. Both were still strong enough to continue, but the organisers ended the contest for safety reasons as it was getting too late in the night.
The joint winners, Satbir Singh and Lampreet Singh, were awarded a bicycle and ₹3500 each. The third-place winner, Chanan Singh, received ₹1500.
To ensure fairness, the organisers set 11 strict rules:
* No mobile phones allowed inside
* No washroom breaks
* No sleeping at any point
* No games or distractions
* No food or water during the contest
* Participants could not fight or argue
* No re-entry once eliminated
* Anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs was barred
* Participants had to remain seated without shifting position
These rules made the challenge extremely taxing. One after another, competitors stepped out due to hunger, thirst, sleepiness, body ache, or simply mental exhaustion.
Even after spending more than 31 hours sitting in the same position, the two winners looked surprisingly calm.
Satbir Singh said, “It felt good to sit quietly for so long. Staying away from the mobile for 30 hours was actually refreshing. Nights were the toughest because of sleep, but somehow I managed. This contest taught me that we can live comfortably even without our phones.”
Lampreet Singh shared, “I passed the time by reading prayers silently. If needed, I could have continued for another few hours. I didn’t even feel the need to get up for the washroom. The experience was different, but honestly, enjoyable.”
The event's creators said the contest wasn't just about fun. Instead, it quietly highlighted values like focus, staying calm, or sticking to tasks - especially for young people glued to screens all day.
Surprisingly, the local women made things happen during the gathering. Not only did they handle setup, but also handed out meals while keeping chaos at bay. Meanwhile, their teamwork kept each detail on track without much fuss.
The event team said both top players were ready to keep going much longer. Still, because it was late and getting risky out there, everyone agreed to stop things right then - calling it a tie between the two.
The gathering really affected folks nearby. Lots of them liked the concept, mentioning events like this ought to happen more frequently - particularly now, when constant distractions, pressure, and glued-to-screens habits keep growing.