The Grand Finale of the 16th Isha Gramotsavam, Bharat’s biggest rural sports festival, concluded spectacularly at the Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore on 29 December 2024.
The event, held in Adiyogi’s presence, marked the culmination of an initiative that witnessed participation from 43,144 players across 4,858 teams, including 10,311 women from 5 States and 1 Union Territory.
The finale was graced by an illustrious gathering including cricket legends Virender Sehwag and Venkatesh Prasad, Paralympic champions Mariyappan Thangavelu and Thulasimathi Murugesan, and industrialist SV Balasubramaniam.
Sadhguru acknowledged the cricket legends’ presence, saying, “Viru & Venkatesh – the two famous V’s that brought many a Victory to Bharat. Wonderful to see you soak in the Spirit of Isha Gramotsavam.”
In the competitive events, Karnataka dominated the volleyball category with Banakal and Palli securing winner and runner-up positions respectively.
The throwball championship was claimed by Margodu, Karnataka, while Pullagoundenpudur, Tamil Nadu, emerged as runners-up.
In para volleyball, Tamil Nadu teams showcased exceptional talent with Coimbatore and Krishnagiri securing the top two positions.
The initiative, part of Conscious Planet, aims to revitalize rural communities through sports, focusing on improving health and quality of life while fostering unity among villagers.
Looking ahead, Sadhguru shared his vision of expanding Gramotsavam’s reach from Kashmir to Kanyakumari in the coming year.
Isha Gramotsavam has evolved into a significant platform celebrating rural talent, unity, and community spirit, marking its importance in India’s rural sports landscape.
