Himalayan Kingfisher Unveiled as Mascot for First Khelo India Water Sports Festival in Srinagar
The festival’s mascot, the Himalayan Kingfisher, with its striking orange and blue plumage, symbolises adventure, nature, and competitive spirit, while promoting eco-friendly sports and tourism.
Srinagar, August 15: The vibrant Himalayan Kingfisher was revealed today as the mascot for the inaugural Khelo India Water Sports Festival (KIWSF), set to take place on Dal Lake from August 21 to 23, 2025. This marks the first water sports event under the Khelo India programme and the second Khelo India event hosted by Jammu & Kashmir this year, following the Winter Games in Gulmarg.
Organised by the Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the festival will see over 400 athletes from 36 states and Union Territories competing. Medal events will include rowing, canoeing, and kayaking, while water skiing, shikara races, and dragon boat races will be held as demonstration sports.
The festival’s mascot, the Himalayan Kingfisher, with its striking orange and blue plumage, symbolises adventure, nature, and competitive spirit, while promoting eco-friendly sports and tourism. The logo, unveiled alongside the mascot and official kits by Jammu & Kashmir Minister for Youth Services and Sports Satish Sharma and MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq, depicts a Shikara on Dal Lake framed by snow-capped mountains and pine trees, blending the beauty of Kashmir with the energy of sport.
“Gulmarg has already become the winter games capital of the country, and now Dal Lake will become the water sports hub of India,” said Sadiq, calling it a proud moment for the region.
