22 September 2025 ( TGN ):“Every rural game represents not just the village, but the whole of Bharat. This is the soul of Isha Gramotsavam, showing us the journey from village to world,” said Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya at the Grand Finale of Bharat’s largest rural sports festival, held yesterday at the 112-ft Adiyogi, Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore.
“I came to Isha Gramotsavam to learn from Sadhguru how he has organised an event at this scale,” he added, praising the festival’s magnitude and reach.
The finale was graced by Sadhguru, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, shuttler Saina Nehwal, Chess Grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu, and para-Olympian Bhavina Patel, amplifying the festive spirit.
Addressing the electrifying crowd, Sadhguru said, “It is my commitment that by 2028, Isha Gramotsavam must be in all the 28 states of the country. It’s not about the sport but essentially to reignite, rekindle a different level of life in rural India.”
Saina Nehwal, moved by the players’ grit and excitement among the spectators, said the atmosphere rivalled a packed cricket stadium, noting that Isha Gramotsavam offers lessons for building India’s sporting culture.
Chess Grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu said, “Watching Isha Gramotsavam, one feels a wave of positive energy. Sports go beyond winning or losing — they teach us to grow, accept victory and defeat with equanimity, and stay calm in challenges.” Encouraging para-athletes, Bhavina Patel added, “The body is just one part, and the real disability lies in not using the mind.”
The 17th edition of the festival spanned two months across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, and for the first time Odisha, along with Puducherry. Matches were held across 183 locations, drawing 63,220 participants including a record 12,227 women, forming 5,472 teams from more than 35,000 villages.
Winners took home ₹5 lakh, runners-up ₹3 lakh, while second and third runners-up received ₹1 lakh and ₹50,000. A special highlight was para-volleyball, celebrating the indomitable spirit of differently-abled athletes.
Beyond sports, the finale showcased rural culture with 2,000 women performing Tamil Nadu’s Valli Kummi, alongside Oyilattam, Therukoothu, Kerala’s Panchari Melam and Chenda Melam, Telangana’s Kusadi, and Karnataka’s Puli Vesham. Over 30 stalls offered authentic South Indian cuisine, while a rangoli contest added color and artistry. Winner of Rangoli competition received ₹33,000 from Sadhguru, with all participants were gifted a saree each.
Launched by Sadhguru in 2004, Isha Gramotsavam has grown into a movement for social transformation — breaking caste barriers, empowering women, and reviving rural pride. Recognised as an NSPO by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and recipient of the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar, the festival continues to inspire with the support of India’s leading sports icons.
