Tikhor, the rhinoceros, is mascot of SAF Games

Tribune News Service

Guwahati, December 13

Tikhor, a rhinoceros calf, was today unveiled as the mascot of the 12th South Asian Games to be held 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 along with the logo — 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.