LASHKARGAH (PAN): Various traditional games and sports competitions underway from the first day of Eidul Azha helped attracted thousands of spectators to the insurgency plagued City of Lashkargah, provincial capital of southern Helmand province.

Thousands of people in the city and nearby districts thronged the Karzai Stadium on the first, second and third day of the religious festival to watch their favorite games.

A sports official, Esmatullah, told Pajhwok Afghan News the competitions would last few more days, keeping in view the increasing public interest.

On third day of the Eid, dozens of wrestlers took part in the wresting competition a famous sport in southern Afghanistan.

Spectators supported the sportsmen with applause and shouting.

Mullah Gul Ahmad, a spectator said such competitions would help keep alive the traditional games on the special occasions like Eid.

He said wrestling and throwing stones were traditional and very common games.

Helmand, the world's largest opium producing region, is one of the restive provinces.

However, the Eid was celebrated with high zeal this time in the province as compared to the previous years.

mnm/ma