The 17th edition of Isha Gramotsavam, Bharat’s largest rural sports festival, commenced in Karnataka on August 10. At a press conference held at the Kodagu Press Club on August 18, the Gramotsavam team announced that this year over 8,100 players from across Karnataka will participate, representing more than 700 teams.
Last year, Karnataka delivered an outstanding performance, securing the first, second, and third prizes in men’s volleyball and topping women’s throwball. This year’s record participation underscores the growing popularity of the event across the state.
Isha Gramotsavam is being held across 19 clusters in 18 districts of Karnataka, with throwball tournaments in eight clusters. Volleyball will feature in the men’s category and throwball in the women’s category, with the finals also showcasing an exhibition match of para-volleyball. Cluster matches have already begun, with divisional matches scheduled in Udupi on August 31 and at Sadhguru Sannidhi, Chikkaballapura, on September 7.
Nationally, the 2025 edition spans more than 35,000 villages across Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Puducherry, and, for the first time, Odisha. Over 50,000 rural participants, including more than 5,000 women, are competing in more than 6,000 teams.
The festival unfolds in three stages: cluster level, divisional level, and finals. The grand finale will take place before the iconic Adiyogi at the Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore, on September 21..
Speaking about the initiative, Sadhguru said, “Isha Gramotsavam is a celebration of life through sports. Sports have the power to unite people beyond social divides. It can dissolve boundaries of caste, religion, and other identities through the joy of play. This is not about becoming a great athlete but about living with a playful spirit throughout life. If you can throw a ball with full involvement and enthusiasm, that ball can change the world. You must experience the joy of playing with abandon”.
Along with sports, Gramotsavam also showcases India’s rich cultural diversity with traditional performances such as Tamil Nadu’s Thavil-Nadaswaram, Valli Kummi and Oyilattam, Kerala’s Panchari Melam and Chenda Melam, Telangana’s Gusadi dance, and Karnataka’s Puli Vesham. Public competitions such as Kolam drawing and Silambam will add to the festive atmosphere.
Launched by Sadhguru in 2004, Gramotsavam aims to rekindle the rural spirit of India, helping rural communities break free from addictions, rise above caste and religious divides, and encourage women’s participation in community life. Unlike professional sports events, Gramotsavam provides a platform for everyday citizens – farmers, sanitation workers, fishermen, daily wage earners, and homemakers – to play, participate, and celebrate.
Organised by Isha Outreach, the festival has earned national recognition for its impact on rural development and sports promotion. Recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, as a National Sports Promotion Organisation (NSPO), it received the prestigious Rashtriya Khel ProtsahanPuraskar in 2018 for its outstanding contribution to grassroots sports. More details are available at:https://consciousplanet.org/en/gramotsavam
