National Sports Day: Everything you need to know | History, Celebration, and Significance
National Sports Day also known as Rashtriya Khel Divas is celebrated every year on Aug 29. The day is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Indian hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand who was born on this date in 1905. The National Sports Day aims to honor Major Dhyanchand's legacy while creating awareness about the benefits of sports and physical activities.
The focus of National Sports Day is to promote sportsmanship, perseverance, discipline, and teamwork among the general public and to urge more people to get involved in sports and make them a significant part of their life.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL SPORTS DAY:
In 1979, Delhi's National Stadium was renamed Major Dhyan Chand Stadium by the Indian Postal Department as a tribute to Major Dhyan Chand after his death. Since 2012, the Indian government has chosen to recognize Major Dhyan Chand's birthday as National Sports Day with the motive of spreading awareness about sportsmanship and propagating the message of various sports.
On August 6, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award will be renamed as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.
NATIONAL SPORTS DAY: SIGNIFICANCE
The purpose of National Sports Day is to raise public awareness of the value of sports and the advantages of physical activity. Around the nation, a number of events are organized with the goal of encouraging people to participate in sports.
The country honors its sporting heroes on this day. The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award, and Dhyan Chand Awards are among the sports honors that the president presents on this occasion.
NATIONAL SPORTS DAY: CELEBRATION 2022
This year the ‘Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports ' (MYAS) and ‘Fit India Mission’ aim to take the FIT India movement to Schools/Colleges/Ministries/Govt & Pvt Organisations by encouraging them to participate in a grand manner in the occasion of National Sports Day on 29th August.
