Guwahati, December 13 – 12th SAF Games mascot Tikhor, a rhinoceros calf, was today unveiled in a function held in Guwahati . The SAF Games will take place in Guwahati and Shillong from February 6 to 16. Tikhor — described as sharp, naughty, sporty and modern — is a popular character from Burhi Aair Sadhu (Grand Mother’s Tales). The book is the first compilation of children’s folk stories by Sahityarathi Lakshminath Bezboruah, a doyen of modern Assamese literature. The highly endangered one-horned rhinoceros is the state animal of Assam.
The mascot was unveiled by Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi and Union Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in function today . The logo for the event was also unveiled along with the mascot . The logo has a flower with eight petals representing the countries participating in the Games.
Meanwhile, a Bhupen Hazarika song has been selected as the theme song for the Games. Written in 1995, the song — ‘Ei prithivi ekhan krirangan, krira hol shantir prangan’ (This world is a playground and sports is a symbol of peace) — is being translated into at least eight languages.