16th Edition of Isha Gramotsavam Kicks Off across TN

The first round of cluster-level volleyball competitions was held at 70 locations, and throwball competitions took place at 24 locations on November 16 and 17. 
Prize pool of Rs 55 lakhs is up for grabs. 
Unique in its format, Isha Gramotsavam 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.
The 16th Isha Gramotsavam, celebrating the sporting spirit of rural India, kicked off today with cluster-level matches across Tamil Nadu.  On November 16 and 17, the first round of men's volleyball competitions was held at 70 locations, while women's throwball matches took place at 24 locations.  Thousands of teams from 30,000 villages across 6,000 gram panchayats participated in these closely contested matches. In the volleyball competitions, 22,522 male players competed, while 5,098 women showcased an electrifying display of rural talent.
The sporting extravaganza spans over two months, unfolding across the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. To be played in over 162 rural locations, the 16th edition of Isha Gramotsavam will involve more than 42,000 players, including over 10,000 rural women—most of them homemakers—competing in Volleyball and Throwball.