Chandigarh: Sadhguru’s Isha Gramotsavam, a rural sports festival aimed at promoting sports culture and community participation in villages, will make its debut in Haryana from July 25.
The tournament, organised under Isha Outreach’s Action for Rural Rejuvenation initiative, aims to encourage rural youth, women and communities to participate in sports while promoting healthier lifestyles.
Tournament to Follow Multi-Stage Format
Speaking about the event, Swami Pulaka, national coordinator of Isha Gramotsavam, said the tournament has brought positive changes in rural communities over the years by encouraging people to come together through sports.
He said villages have witnessed greater participation of women, stronger community bonding and increased awareness about healthy lifestyles through the initiative.
The Haryana edition will follow a multi-stage format, including:
- Cluster-level matches
- Divisional rounds
- Grand finale
Cluster-level matches will be held on July 25-26 in Panipat, Karnal and Ambala, while Hisar and Kurukshetra will host matches on August 1-2.
The divisional rounds will take place in Karnal on August 9, with the winning Haryana team qualifying for the grand finale scheduled from September 4-6 at the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore.
Sports Platform for Rural Citizens
Unlike professional sporting tournaments, Isha Gramotsavam is designed exclusively for everyday rural citizens, including farmers, daily wage workers, homemakers and students.
A participant from Panipat, Anuj Jaglan, said the tournament encouraged young people in villages to spend more time on sports instead of unhealthy habits and excessive mobile phone use.
He added that sports provide rural youth with a positive direction and help build stronger communities.
Over Rs 1 Crore Prize Pool Announced
The tournament carries a total prize pool of more than Rs 1 crore, with cash awards distributed at cluster, divisional and grand finale levels.
At the cluster stage:
- Winners will receive Rs 10,000.
- Runners-up will get Rs 7,000.
- Third and fourth-placed teams will receive Rs 5,000 and Rs 3,000 respectively.
At the divisional stage:
- Winners will receive Rs 15,000.
- Runners-up will get Rs 10,000.
- Third and fourth positions will receive Rs 6,000 and Rs 4,000 respectively.
At the grand finale:
- Volleyball and throwball winners will receive Rs 5 lakh each.
- Runners-up will get Rs 3 lakh.
- Third and fourth-placed teams will receive Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000 respectively.
Separate prizes have also been allocated for the Paralympic category.
66-Year-Old Farmer Inspires Women’s Participation
One of the highlights of Haryana’s first Isha Gramotsavam edition is 66-year-old farmer Jalpati from Waiser village in Panipat, who has registered for the tournament and is forming a women’s throwball team from her village.
Her participation highlights the tournament’s focus on encouraging women across generations to take part in sports and strengthen community spirit.
Apart from Haryana, Isha Gramotsavam will also be organised in states including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Puducherry.