New Delhi, August 25 (HS): Bharat will celebrate National Sports Day 2025 as a three-day nationwide Jan Andolan from August 29 to 31, turning the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand into a people’s movement for sports and fitness across the country.
Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya will lead the pan-India Fit India sports campaign, joined by eminent athletes, public representatives, community leaders, and lakhs of citizens in simultaneous programmes across States, Union Territories, districts, schools, and local bodies.
‘Ek Ghanta, Khel ke Maidan Main’ at the heart of the movement
Organised under the Fit India Mission, the three-day celebration carries the theme “Ek Ghanta, Khel ke Maidan Main”—urging every citizen to dedicate at least 60 minutes a day to physical activity as a safeguard against lifestyle diseases.
The festival will showcase both modern sports and India’s indigenous games under the motto “Har Gali, Har Maidan, Khele Saara Hindustan.”
Day One (Aug 29): Tributes to Major Dhyan Chand, Fit India Pledge, and one hour of nationwide play.
Day Two (Aug 30): Sports debates, fitness talks and competitions in indigenous and modern sports such as kho-kho, kabaddi, volleyball, sack race and tug of war.
Day Three (Aug 31): Grand culmination with “Fit India Sundays on Cycle”—a nationwide cycling drive promoting fitness and sustainability.
Mass participation across Bharat
Over 35 crore students from schools, colleges and universities are expected to join, alongside youth clubs, NSS volunteers, resident associations, Panchayats, corporates, PSUs, and sports federations. Chief Ministers across States will personally participate in programmes from their capitals, amplifying the movement’s reach.
Prominent athletes including Pranav Soorma, Sumit Antil, Shreyasi Singh, Bhavani Devi, Vishnu Saravanan, PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu, Abhinav Bindra and Sunil Chhetri will inspire citizens by leading sports and fitness events from their home States and training centres.
Boost to India’s Olympic vision
Aligned with Bharat’s ambition to host the 2036 Olympic Games, the celebrations emphasise Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect and Paralympic values of Courage, Determination, Inspiration and Equality.
A National Conclave on Sports Manufacturing will also be held under Aatmanirbhar Bharat, while the Fit India App will introduce a carbon savings incentivisation feature, encouraging citizens to adopt eco-friendly, healthy living practices.
With official bodies, athletes and citizens rallying together, National Sports Day 2025 is set to become a true celebration of fitness and a reflection of India’s inclusive sporting spirit from “gali to maidan, and village to metro.”
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
