Under the bright September sky, Guwahati’s Sarusajai Sports Complex transformed into a carnival of athleticism and community pride. 2025 marked the 42nd Abhiruchi Sports Day, held on September 3 (with follow-up events on Sept 4) at Sarusajai and the RG Baruah Sports Complex in Guwahati. This annual festival honors Assam’s first Arjuna Awardee, track legend Bhogeswar Baruah, on his birthday. Excitement was high as hundreds of students, athletes, and families converged to celebrate sportsmanship.
Energetic Games and Competitions
The day kicked off with an energetic mass jogging event winding through the Sarusajai grounds. Assamese film star Barsha Rani Bishaya led the fun-run, setting a lively tone. Following the run, students competed in group dance and mass PT (physical training) contests on the stadium lawn. Over both days there were sports quiz contests and a grand felicitation ceremony. The two-day schedule included everything from fun races to drill competitions and quizzes – a full slate of athletic and team challenges for all ages
Notable Guests and Stars
The event drew Assam’s sports luminaries. Legend Bhogeswar Baruah himself was the guest of honor, applauding each race. Among the notable participants were former international sprinter Tayabun Nessa, Assam Sports Minister Nandita Gorlosa, Director of Sports Ankur Bharali, and organizing chairman Balendra Mohan Chakravarty, all cheering on the young athletes. When the starting gun fired, Assam’s popular actress Barsha Rani Bishaya took to the track alongside the runners. Such appearances by public figures inspired the crowd and underscored the day’s significance.
Community Spirit and Participation
From the first whistle, the event was a community affair. Participants from dozens of schools, clubs, and institutions flooded the complex. For example, the Kho Kho Association of Guwahati won a special award for fielding the largest team of joggers. Local school bands, youth organizations and even families strolled in matching T-shirts. Colorful banners and chants filled the air. Commentators noted the friendly competition: “Students and office teams came out in full force – it felt like the whole city was running, dancing, and playing together.” Such broad engagement made the sports day feel like a true city-wide festival of fitness.
Awards and Honors
Abhiruchi Sports Day also served as an awards gala. Dozens of Assam’s top sports achievers were felicitated for their accomplishments over the past year. A grand ceremony on the second evening honored 38 athletes from Assam who had represented India internationally. Special trophies and titles were announced. For example, organizers presented: – RG Baruah Award (Sports Organizer of the Year) to Muralidhar Choudhury.
– Chidananda Das Coach Award to Nipon Das, a veteran athletics coach.
– Jogesh Sarma Krira Udyogi Award to Babul Khan (for promoting sports).
– Chandra Nath Chakravarty Physical Education Excellence Award to Dilip Sarma.
Two promising young athletes also took center stage: table tennis star Jenessa Bipul and archer Maneet Kashyap received the Gopal Barua Youth Award. In addition, prominent sports organizers and educators from Assam were honored for lifetime contributions (names like Rupen Bora, Dr. Geeta Dutta Baruah, and others). These recognitions, presented amid loud applause, highlighted inspiring local role models. Chakravarty even announced that the Sarusajai Sports Complex would soon be renamed in honor of Bhogeswar Baruah – a tribute to the day’s legacy.
Cultural Festivities
True to its celebratory spirit, Abhiruchi Day mixed sports with culture. Alongside the athletic contests, there were colorful cultural programs to liven the event. Local dance troupes and school groups performed Assamese folk dances (such as Bihu), traditional songs, and mass drills. Sporting mascots and cheer squads kept the energy high between events. Organizers had promised “a variety of cultural programmes, adding vibrancy to the occasion”, and the crowd enjoyed the mix of games and festive performances. These cultural interludes reminded everyone that the day honors Assam’s heritage as much as its athletes.
Significance and Impact
Abhiruchi Sports Day has a special place in Assam’s sporting history. Decades before India’s National Sports Day (August 29) took root, Assam had marked September 3 as its own state sports day, celebrating Bhogeswar Baruah’s legacy. This tradition, now in its 42nd year, helps instill fitness and pride in young people. By highlighting local champions and bringing communities together on the playing field, the event boosts interest in athletics and healthy living across the state. In 2025, Guwahati’s event underscored that legacy: the corridors of the complex rang with cheers, and even beyond the stadium, parents and students buzzed about trying the sports at next year’s celebration.
As the sun set over RG Baruah Stadium, the final awards were given and families drifted home – but the spirit of Abhiruchi Sports Day lingered. In a city where sports often unite diverse communities, this festival of running shoes, drums, and dance steps is more than just a date on the calendar. It is a living tribute to Assam’s champions and a reminder that every child with a dream can take that first step toward the winner’s podium.
By – Sonali