Times News NetworkCoimbatore: The first phase of Isha Gramotsavam 2026, a rural sports festival organised by Sadhguru’s Isha Foundation, is set to kick off in more than 70 locations in Tamil Nadu on Aug 1.Launched to promote community wellbeing, revive traditional village life and steer rural youth away from substance abuse, this year’s edition marks a major national expansion. Previously restricted to southern India, the tournament now extends to northern states including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Maharashtra.The 2026 festival will see more than 80,000 rural players, including approximately 15,000 women from 40,000 villages, competing in volleyball (men) and throwball (women) categories, alongside adaptive sports for persons with disabilities.The gramotsavam follows a three-stage format starting with cluster-level rounds in early August, progressing through divisional matches and concluding with a grand finale on the Adiyogi campus in Coimbatore on Sept 6.Winners in both primary categories will take home Rs 5 lakh each, from a total prize pool exceeding Rs 1 crore. Beyond athletics, the event will highlight rural heritage with traditional food stalls, folk arts and classic games like kabaddi and kho-kho. Registration is open online.Eligible rural players can register at ishagramotsavam.sadhguru.org. For further details, contact 83000 30999.
