Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium

History

This one-tier stadium was constructed in 2007 to host the 33rd National Games of India with a mostly standing capacity for 35,000 people. Only the main stand had a limited number of seats installed.

The stadium was named to tribute the late Indira Gandhi who was the third Prime Minister of India. An international friendly between India and Malaysia was played at this stadium on 13 November 2011. On 12 March 2015, India played against Nepal for the 2018 World Cup qualifier.

From 2014, it has been the home ground for NorthEast United FC in the Guwahati-based Indian Super League side, and for which it underwent major renovations. The stadium recorded the highest attendance for a football game in Assam when 32,844 spectators came to see the ISL match between NorthEast United and visitors Chennaiyin on 20 October 2016.

It was also used by I-League champions Aizawl FC (2016–17) of Mizoram and Minerva Punjab FC (2017–18) of Punjab as their home ground for AFC group stage matches. It is also proposed by Inter Kashi for season 2025-26 as their home stadium till the time their own stadium get ready in Varanasi.

The stadium was the main venue of the 2016 South Asian Games, which was held in both Guwahati and Shillong from 5 to 16 February 2016.

It was one of the venues for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup held in India. Individual seats were installed in 2017, during the preparation for the event, reducing capacity to below 25,000.

The stadium hosted the Assam Global Investors' Summit on 3 and 4 February 2018 and the 65th Filmfare Awards on 15 February 2020.

The stadium was selected as one of the provisional venues for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup that was to be held in India in 2020 where it was expected host the opening. The tournament later got postponed due to COVID-19 and the stadium was dropped from the list of venues.

In March 2020, the Government of Assam constructed isolation wards during the COVID-19 pandemic in India in the premises.

On 28 May 2025, a meeting of the cabinet of Assam chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma renamed the sports complex of which the stadium is a part of as the Arjuna Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex, after the first Assamese sportsperson to receive the Arjuna Award, Bhogeswar Baruah. The stadium is part of the wider Arjuna Bhogeswar Baruah sports complex:

Major football matches

As well as local matches, the stadium has also hosted major national and international matches.

[[India national football team]] matches

Report (AFC) Passi Jhingan Rafique Cardozo Goal.com

• Mukhammad

[[2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup]] matches

• Wadenges
• Iwa
• Gouiri
• Gomes
• Caqueret
• Wanesse
• Isidor
• Palacios
• Nakamura
• Kubo
• Miyashiro
• Suzuki
• Gouiri
• Miyashiro
• Mejía
• Canales
• Palacios
• Isidor
• Flips
• Gouiri
• Adli
• Mejía

Major events

Bihu Dance Performance

On a 14 April 2023, on the occasion of Bohag Bihu, over 11,000 dancers and musicians gathered at the stadium to perform the traditional Assamese Bihu dance, setting two world records. This performance achieved the world record for the largest Bihu dance performance and the largest performance by folk musicians. The event lasted for 15 minutes and showcased the talents of more than 7,000 dancers and over 3,000 dhol drummers and other musicians.

The event was attended by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Himanta Biswa Sarma also received a Geographical Indication registration certificate for the Gamosa, the traditional Assamese scarf, which was given in December 2022.

References

References

1. (28 December 2020). "AFC Asian Cup 2027 Bidding Nation India". All India Football Federation.
2. [http://www.indiansuperleague.com/matchcentre/11786-northeast-united-fc-vs-chennaiyin-fc The official site of Hero Indian Super League. Matchcentre]
3. Chief Minister Assam. (June 5, 2025). "In a fitting tribute to Assam’s sporting pride, the Sarusajai Sports Complex has been renamed as the Arjuna Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex.".
4. Chaudhury, Dipanjan Roy. (2015-12-12). "India to host South Asian Games (SAG) in Guwahati and Shillong". The Economic Times.
5. Singh, Bikash. (2018-09-27). "Advantage Assam: Global Investors' Summit has attracted Rs. 8,020.21 crore till now says Chandra Mohan Patwary". The Economic Times.
6. "Filmfare Awards 2020 All Set To Be Hosted In Guwahati".
7. Lokapally, Vijay. "FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup: Guwahati to host opener, final in Mumbai".
8. "Assam government transforms Sarusajai Stadium into coronavirus isolation facility".
9. (2025-05-29). "Assam Renames Sarusajai Sports Complex After Sporting Legend Bhogeswar Baruah".
10. "Wayback Machine".
11. "Infrastructure".
12. "Assam shatters world records with over 11,000 performers in Bihu Dance extravaganza {{!}} TOI Original - Times of India Videos".
13. (2023-04-14). "Bihu dance sets world record, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma shares another video of the performance".
14. Time, Pratidin. "Assam Enters Guinness Book Of World Records With Largest Bihu Performance".
15. "Bihu performance with over 11,300 dancers, drummers enters Guinness World Records".
16. (2023-04-14). "PM Modi Attends Mega Bihu Programme At Sarusajai Stadium In Guwahati [WATCH]".