ISHA GRAMOTSAVAM MAKES GRAND DEBUT IN HIMACHAL PRADESH , 1200 RURAL CITIZENS PARTICIPATE IN KULLU CLUSTER MATCHES

Utsav Soni/Kullu (HP)

Isha Gramotsavam, Bharat’s biggest rural sports festival, marked its successful debut in Himachal Pradesh as 1200 rural people from villages across the state came together to celebrate the spirit of sports, community and rural life. The inaugural cluster-level tournament was held on August 2 at  Dhalpur Grounds witnessing participation from 62 men’s volleyball teams and 40 women’s throwball teams. The inaugural edition of Isha Gramotsavam turned out to be the biggest rural sports festival in the state.

Isha Gramotsavam was launched in 2004 by Sadhguru – Yogi, Spiritual Guru and Founder of Isha Foundation – with the vision to revive the vibrant spirit of rural Bharat by bringing villages together through sports and culture. Unlike professional sporting tournaments, Gramotsavam is exclusively meant for rural citizens—from farmers, fishermen and daily wage earners to students and homemakers—providing them an opportunity to represent their villages, strengthen community bonds and celebrate rural life through healthy competition. What makes this year’s Gramotsavam truly special is the launch in Himachal witnessing the incredible spirit of the women. Many participants were mothers and homemakers who stepped onto a sports field  for the first time in over two decades. They travelled from remote mountain villages, balancing their  families and responsibilities, simply to be part of this celebration. Their determination and courage beautifully reflect the true spirit of the Himalayas. The oldest player to participate is 65 year old Vanti Devi from Chachoga Panchayat.

In the women’s throwball competition, Panihar A from Gopalpur emerged as the Throwball Champions in Kullu cluster. Shikaribeed A from Thatibeed finished as the runners-up, while Tejaswani from Raison and Panihar B from Gopalpur claimed the third and fourth positions, respectively.

The youth and the men played an equally important role in the celebration of rural spirits. In the men’s volleyball competition, Rishi boys from Jagatsukh village emerged as the Volleyball Champions in Kullu cluster. Baragran’s team finished as the runners-up, while Nasogi’s team and Seobagh from Kais claimed the third and fourth positions, respectively. The Cluster Champions in both men’s volleyball and women’s throwball were awarded ₹10,000 each, while the runners-up received ₹7,000. The third and fourth-placed teams were awarded ₹5,000 and ₹3,000, respectively.

The Cluster Champions will now progress to the Divisional Round, scheduled to be held on 9 August in Karnal, Haryana. The divisional champions will receive cash prizes of ₹15,000, while the runners-up, third and fourth-placed teams will receive ₹10,000, ₹6,000, and ₹4,000, respectively. he Divisional Champions will then advance to the National Grand Finale, to be held from 4–6 September in front of the iconic Adiyogi at the Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore. The national champions in Isha Yoga Center, Velliangiri Foothills, Ishana Vihar Post, Coimbatore – 641114, India both men’s volleyball and women’s throwball will each receive ₹5 lakh, while the runners-up will be awarded ₹3 lakh. The third and fourth-placed teams will receive ₹1 lakh and ₹50,000, respectively.

To further encourage women’s participation in rural sports, the Best Women’s Throwball Player from Maharashtra in the Divisional Round will also stand a chance to win a Gravton electric bike worth over ₹1.2 lakh.

The event was graced by several distinguished dignitaries. The chief guests included Ms. Asha Thakur – Chairperson of the Kullu Municipal Council; Ms. Shalini Rai Bhardwaj, Vice President, Kullu Municipal Council; Ms. Kubja Thakur, Councillor; and Ms. Jivan Mala Sharma, Councillor. Representing the district administration, Mr. Sandeep Sharma, IFS, Conservator of Forests, Kullu; Mr. Surjeet Rathore, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Kullu; Dr. Rohit Sharma, District Tourism Development Officer (DTDO), Kullu; and Ms. Kavita Thakur, District Youth Services and Sports Officer (DYSSO), Kullu, also graced the
occasion.

This year marks the 18th edition of Isha Gramotsavam. Nationally, Isha Gramotsavam is expected to bring together over 80,000 participants from more than 40,000 villages across 10 states and one Union Territory. Accredited by FIT India, the tournament will feature over 7,000 teams, including an estimated 15,000 women participants. Organised by Isha Outreach under its Action for Rural Rejuvenation initiative, this year’s tournament is being held across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra
Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and the Union Territory of
Puducherry.

Isha Gramotsavam has earned national recognition for its contribution to rural development and grassroots sports promotion. It is recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, as a National Sports Promotion Organization (NSPO). In 2018, the initiative received the prestigious Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar for its outstanding contribution to grassroots sports.

The support of Isha Gramotsavam’s partners has made it possible to provide a national platform where thousands of rural athletes can discover their potential, represent their villages with pride, and celebrate the spirit of rural Bharat through sport. This year’s edition is supported by Gravton Motors as the Mobility Partner, Nivia Sports as the Sports & Equipment Partner, TATA AIA Life Insurance Company Limited as the Bronze Partner, Wonder Cement as the On-ground Support Partner, and CG Power and Industrial Solutions Limited, Varindera Constructions Limited, Royal Infraconstru Ltd, and Agilisium Consulting as CSR Partners.