‘Politics must embrace spirituality’
Sadhguru, a Indian yogi, mystic, author, and founder of the Isha Foundation, is a prominent global spiritual leader known for "Inner Engineering" yoga programmes.
Isha Gramotsavam, India’s largest annual rural sports festival, is expanding to North Indian villages this year, with its 18th edition reaching to 10 states and one Union Territory.
For the first time, the sports tournament will be conducted across Uttar Pradesh, Harayana, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, along with Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry. It is all to bring together over 80,000 players from more than 40,000 villages through an estimated 7,000 teams, including nearly 15,000 women players, read a statement.
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The event will witness men competing in volleyball, while women will participate in throwball. Winning volleyball and throwball teams at the grand finale will be given ₹5 lakh each, while runners-up will receive ₹3 lakh. Also, third and fourth-place teams will receive ₹1 lakh and ₹50,000, respectively.
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Besides this, cash prizes will be awarded at the Cluster and Divisional stages, with dedicated awards for the Paralympic category, reinforcing Gramotsavam’s commitment to inclusive participation. With a prize pool of ₹1 crore, the tournament offers a grand platform that keeps the grassroots players motivated.
“With every edition, Isha Gramotsavam continues to grow not just in scale but in impact. Bringing together more than 80,000 players from villages across India, the tournament offers a rare platform where grassroots talent is recognised and celebrated. We invite every eligible village team to participate and experience the joy, camaraderie and transformative power of sport,” Swami Pulaka, Gramotsavam Coordinator, said in a statement.
A multi-stage format comprising Cluster-Level matches, Divisional rounds and the Grand Finale will be followed. The Cluster-level matches commence from the second week of July, followed by the Grand Finale on September 6 in the presence of Sadhguru in front of the iconic Adiyogi at the Isha Yoga Center Coimbatore.
In Uttar Pradesh, the Cluster-level matches will be held across five locations, with the maiden round taking place on July 25–26 at Lucknow, Varanasi, Muzaffarnagar and Meerut, followed by matches at Gautam Buddh Nagar on August 1–2. The state-level matches will be held at Lucknow on August 9.
In Haryana, cluster-level matches will take place on July 25 and 26 in Panipat, Karnal, and Ambala. The next round of cluster matches will take place on August 1 and 2 in Hisar and Kurukshetra. The state level matches are scheduled for August 9 in Karnal and will bring together teams from Haryana.
Isha Gramotsavam, which is recognised as a National Sports Promotion Organisation by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, has been encouraging rural sports for more than two decades. “By intentionally excluding professional athletes, Gramotsavam creates a rare opportunity for village players to experience structured competition and showcase their abilities on a national platform,” said Swami Pulaka.
Nandhini Duraisamy, a 36-year-old throwball player and captain of the PG Pudur team from Devarayapuram village, said that before this tournament, there were very few opportunities for rural women to play sports.
“Most women didn’t even step outside their homes. Through Isha Gramotsavam, many women have gained the confidence to come out, play, and showcase their talent. My biggest challenge was travelling every day for practice. While I was away for training, my husband took care of my daughter and the family. Isha also supported us by providing transportation, food, balls, nets, and coaches, which made a huge difference. My village has produced 37 Physical Education teachers, each of them inspired to pursue sports because of Isha Gramotsavam” she said.
Duraisamy, a mother and a PE teacher, has led her team through an impressive three-year journey, securing the championship in 2023, finishing runners-up in 2024, and earning third place in 2025.
Rajeshwari, a throwball player and homemaker, said, “For us housewives who are at home all day, it is a commitment; no matter where we are, we make sure to be here at the set time. Even if we travel to our village or anywhere else, we make sure to be back by 5 p.m. to practice. We have tremendous support from our husbands. Though it wasn’t easy for us and we had to struggle to reach this point… When we play, others try to pull us down or look for ways to stop us. We have overcome all our fears and our focus is to play well.”
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“No one will ever say that people from villages cannot succeed. You certainly can,” said Manikandan, 33, from Uthamasolapuram village of Salem district of Tamil Nadu. Manikandan is a fisherman by livelihood and a volleyball player by passion.
For Manikandan, Isha Gramotsavam became the turning point where talent met recognition. “In the 2025 Isha Gramotsavam tournament, we won the trophy and I was adjudged the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. With the prize money, I was able to upgrade sports facilities in my village, buy new shoes for all the players, also renovate my home,” he said.
In the last two days, the tournament has grown from a regional sporting festival into one of the country’s largest community-driven sports movements. Since its inception, the initiative has engaged over 2.6 lakh rural players, representing more than 35,000 villages, while inspiring participation from tens of thousands of women and first-time players. Gramotsavam also celebrates the rich cultural heritage of rural India through vibrant displays of traditional art, folk performances, music, dance, games, and regional cuisine. Visitors and participants can experience captivating folk traditions such as Mangai Valli Kummi Attam and participate in classic village games.
Speaking about the deeper role of sport in shaping individuals and communities, Sadhguru said, “The most responsible way to live is that you are playful with life. It’s absolutely irresponsible to carry a long face and walk around on this planet. Being playful is being very responsible and responsive to life. Only when you are playful, you can pay attention to everything. You can truly respond to everything in the world only if you are playful otherwise you cannot – just the burden of it will kill you.”
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Conceived as more than a sporting event in 2004, Isha Gramotsavam seeks to address some of rural India’s pressing social challenges.
“While over 60 per cent of rural India is of working age, many young people face limited livelihood opportunities, unviable agriculture and non-inclusive growth, often leading to poverty and addiction. Gramotsavam has rekindled the spirit of village communities. Over the years, it has emerged as an effective platform for encouraging healthy lifestyles, breaking caste barriers, empowering women, strengthening community bonds and reviving the resilient spirit of rural India,” Swami Pulaka added.
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