Over the past few decades, there has been a steady growth and transformation in the rural populations that have been impacted by Isha Foundation’s rural rejuvenation projects. These projects have brought in a sense of celebration and sporting spirit among villagers.

One of the key features of Isha’s rural projects is the presence of sports. Through sports, Isha has managed to create a conducive atmosphere for villagers to come together irrespective of age, gender or social standing; a level playing field for all, not just to play but also to shed their long-held inhibitions about themselves and preconceived prejudices about those around them. This has been hugely inspiring for villagers and brought about personal transformations, which in turn sparks off community-wide change and improvement in social harmony.

Isha Gramotsavam epitomizes this inclusive sense of being game for life. Isha Gramotsavam is a celebration of rural India, and includes sports tournaments, folk dance and music and rural cuisine. This year, Cholamandalam Finance has come forward to partner with Isha, to make sports a way to build bonds between villagers and create the necessary foundation for social transformation.

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What Sports does?

  • Present a way out of addiction and leads the way towards healthy living
  • Breaks caste barriers, fosters friendship, unity and a vibrant community
  • Empowers women to be confident and participate in society
  • Rekindles the rural spirit and pride in the individual, transforms communities and motivates the population for positive change
  • Revives the rich rural culture and brings back the celebratory mood of rural community


Isha Chola Trophy in Tamil Nadu is a model of how sports transformed individuals and thus, the whole rural scenario. The pinnacle of this month-long flurry of sporting activity in villages all around Tamil Nadu will meet its climax on December 21st, in the iconic presence of the Adiyogi statue at the Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore. The final matches will be played there and the Isha Chola Trophy will find its rightful owner!

This time, a formidable 4000 players in 400 teams from 16 clusters across Tamil Nadu have participated in the initial rounds. Four village clusters each from north, south, east and west were formed, where inter-village and inter-cluster level matches were played.  320 men’s volleyball teams and 80 women’s throwball teams took part in countless practice matches and tournaments where many individuals were learning and playing the game for the first time.

It is healthy, playful individuals that make healthy, playful communities and villages, and a healthy and prosperous nation. As societies, we do many things to celebrate our wealth. It’s time to celebrate our health and spirit of playfulness.

To make rural transformations possible now and in future, we invite you to donate here.

Come celebrate the Sporting Spirit of Tamil Nadu with us!

Date: December 21st

Venue: Adiyogi, Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore.

All are invited!