After several divisional and state-level volleyball and throwball matches across South India, the grand finals of the 16th Isha Gramotsavam, Bharat’s largest rural sports festival, was held recently.
The finale took place in front of the iconic 112-ft Adiyogi statue and was graced by Sadhguru, Founder of Isha Foundation, along with Virender Sehwag and Venkatesh Prasad, the cricket legends.
Thousands of people from India and worldwide witnessed the event.
The men’s volleyball finals series of matches featured contests among teams representing Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala (two teams each), Karnataka (four teams), and Tamil Nadu (twelve teams).
Similarly, the women’s throwball finals saw competition between teams from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana (two teams each), and Tamil Nadu (six teams). The event was telecasted live on Isha Foundation’s official YouTube channel.
The Isha Gramotsavam was launched by Sadhguru in 2004 and is a unique social initiative aimed at bringing the spirit of sports and playfulness into the lives of rural people.
It is unique in its format, and is not open for professionals, setting the stage for everyday rural folks- from daily wage earners, fishermen, and housewives among others, to break away from their daily grind and come enjoy the celebratory and unifying power of sports.
Speaking about Isha Gramotsavam, Sadhguru said, “Isha Gramotsavam is a celebration of Life through Sport. A game can unite people beyond all social divisions; this is the power of Sport- that it can erase boundaries of caste, religion and other identities with celebratory playfulness.
This is not about becoming a competitive sportsperson, but just about being a Sport for life. If you can throw a ball with total participation and involvement, a ball can change the world. May you know the joy of Playing with abandon.”
Participating as one of the Chief Guests of Isha Gramotsavam, cricket legend, Sehwag took to X and said, “Looking forward to seeing the spirit of Bharat and the amazing champions participating in this wonderful Sports festival, Gramotsavam.”
The sporting extravaganza spanning over two months unfolded across the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
Played in over 162 rural locations, Isha Gramotsavam involves more than 43,000 players, including over 10,000 rural women—most of them homemakers—competing in Volleyball and Throwball.
Adding to the excitement, the festival featured cultural events such as Nadaswaram, Thavil, Panchari Melam, and Silambam, along with traditional performances like Valli Kummi with 1,000 participants and Oyilattam with 500 participants.
Public competitions, including Rangoli and Silambam, are also being organised.
Isha Gramotsavam is more than a sports festival—it is a movement to revitalise rural life. By weaving sports into the fabric of village communities, it inspires rural youth to break free from the chains of substance abuse and fosters a spirit of unity that transcends caste, religion, and ethnicity.
For rural women, often excluded from physical activities, it opens the door to reclaim their strength, confidence, and rightful place in the arena of sports.