Moga

Moga was the official mascot of the 2023 National Games of India, held in Goa from October to November 2023. The character was presented as an Indian bison and was intended to express strength, grace, resilience, determination, and the ability to overcome obstacles. Its name was explained as meaning “love,” giving the mascot an additional emotional association with Goa and the sporting community. Moga was introduced after the earlier mascot for the Goa-hosted National Games, the flame-throated bulbul Rubigula, became outdated following postponements and changes to the event schedule. The 2020 National Games had originally been planned for Goa but were delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic. After Goa retained the hosting rights for the 37th edition, organizers selected a new mascot for the rescheduled event. The mascot formed part of a wider public-engagement strategy intended to build anticipation for the Games. Before the official reveal, organizers used social media and billboards along national highways. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and other public figures helped create curiosity by asking “Where is Moga?” without initially explaining the character’s identity. Goa’s sports minister, Govind Gaude, said the campaign succeeded in encouraging public discussion, including conversations between parents and children. Organizers later intended to use a similarly suspenseful approach for the Games’ torch relay. Moga was formally launched on 18 June 2023 at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Taleigao. The launch was attended by senior political and sporting figures, including Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Sports Minister Govind Gaude, Union minister Shripad Naik, Indian Olympic Association president P. T. Usha, boxer Mary Kom, and Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh. The occasion also included the unveiling of the Goan contingent’s official jersey, musical performances, and traditional Goan dances. As a public-facing sports mascot, Moga was used to connect the National Games with schools, communities, and local civic events. It visited Don Bosco Higher Secondary School and College in Panaji on 17 October 2023 to promote physical activity and fitness. It also appeared during torch-relay activities in Mapusa on 20 and 21 October, interacting with students, residents, local officials, and community organizations. Moga also became part of a political dispute about the cost and management of preparations for the Games. In the Goa Legislative Assembly on 20 July 2023, opposition legislator Vijai Sardesai questioned spending associated with replacing Rubigula, launching Moga, and contracting event-management services. The debate raised questions about the rationale for the mascot change, the amount paid to the original mascot designer, and the resemblance alleged between Moga and the FC Goa mascot. These claims were raised as political concerns in the assembly; the available reference material does not establish a final legal finding or adjudicated misconduct.

Moga was created as the official mascot for the 2023 National Games of India in Goa. The character was designed as an Indian bison, an animal used to communicate physical power and endurance. Organizers associated the mascot with the resilience of athletes and their determination to overcome obstacles in pursuit of sporting excellence. The name was described as meaning “love,” giving the identity a welcoming and emotionally accessible quality. The mascot emerged from a change in the Games’ circumstances. Goa had previously been scheduled to host the 2020 National Games, for which the flame-throated bulbul Rubigula had been selected as mascot. The 2020 event was postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic. When the Indian Olympic Association assigned the 37th National Games to Goa again, organizers selected Moga as the new official mascot for the revised event rather than retaining the earlier identity. Publicity began before the formal reveal. Goa’s sports authorities used social-media posts and roadside billboards to create anticipation, while prominent political figures asked “Where is Moga?” This teaser approach concealed the mascot’s identity and encouraged residents to speculate about the campaign. Sports Minister Govind Gaude later said that the campaign generated conversation across the state, including among families and children. The authorities planned to apply a comparable engagement model to the torch relay. Moga was launched on 18 June 2023 at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Taleigao. The event brought together Goa’s political leadership and prominent Indian sports figures. Attendees included Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Sports Minister Govind Gaude, Union minister Shripad Naik, Indian Olympic Association president P. T. Usha, boxer Mary Kom, and Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh. The launch combined the mascot presentation with the unveiling of the Goan contingent’s jersey and cultural performances by local artists. The character’s stated meaning extended beyond visual decoration. Gaude described the bison as representing strength and grace, qualities he associated with Goan athletes and sportspeople. The mascot therefore served both as an event-marketing asset and as a symbolic representation of the host state’s sporting ambitions. Speakers at the launch expressed hopes that the Games would improve Goa’s sports ecosystem and encourage the emergence of more successful athletes. During the run-up to the Games, Moga appeared in outreach programs. On 17 October 2023 it visited Don Bosco Higher Secondary School and College in Panaji, where the appearance promoted exercise, fitness, and participation in sport. On 20 October it appeared at a torch-relay activity at Mapusa Police Station. The following day it interacted with residents and students in Mapusa and nearby Siolim during the torch rally, alongside local representatives, schools, women’s groups, and panchayat members. The mascot also became the subject of a legislative controversy. On 20 July 2023, Vijai Sardesai, the representative for Fatorda, questioned spending associated with the Games’ infrastructure and branding. He cited expenditure on the earlier Rubigula launch, the relatively small payment reportedly made to its designer, the cost attributed to changing to Moga, and a separate event-management contract. Sardesai also questioned the justification for changing mascots and alleged that Moga resembled the FC Goa mascot. Sports Minister Govind Gaude responded by explaining the history of the postponed 2020 Games and the decision to adopt a new mascot after Goa retained the hosting assignment. The available material records the political dispute but does not establish a final finding of wrongdoing.

• 2023

  Moga unveiled

  [1]Moga (mascot)en.wikipedia.org

  Moga was formally launched on 18 June at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Taleigao, Goa.

• 2023

  National Games public outreach

  [1]Moga (mascot)en.wikipedia.org

  Moga appeared at schools and torch-relay activities in Panaji, Mapusa, and Siolim during October.

• 2020

  Original Goa Games mascot selected

  [1]Moga (mascot)en.wikipedia.org

  The flame-throated bulbul Rubigula was selected for the National Games that had been planned for Goa in 2020. The event was later postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A regional sports-event mascot positioned around athletic perseverance, physical strength, local identity, and public participation in Goa.

• Sports-event mascot · 2023

  Moga mascot identity

  An anthropomorphic Indian bison used as the official visual character of the 2023 National Games of India. The identity represented strength, grace, perseverance, and the determination of athletes, while also linking the event to Goa’s regional sporting ambitions.

• 2023

  Assembly questions spending on mascot replacement and launch

  During a Goa Legislative Assembly session, opposition legislator Vijai Sardesai questioned the reported costs of the earlier mascot launch, the change from Rubigula to Moga, and related event-management services. He also questioned the rationale for the replacement and alleged a resemblance to the FC Goa mascot. The available reference does not document a final legal or investigative determination.

  Source

Read more

• 2023Where is Moga?

  Goa, India

  Organizers used social media and billboards along national highways to ask the public “Where is Moga?” before revealing that Moga was the Games mascot.

  Outcome. The sports minister said the campaign created curiosity and generated discussion among residents, including families and children.

  Source
• 2023Moga school and torch-relay outreach

  Panaji, Mapusa, and Siolim, India

  Mascot appearances at a school and during torch-relay activities promoted the Games, physical fitness, and participation in sport.

  Outcome. Moga interacted with students, citizens, local officials, and community groups during the pre-Games program.

  Source

• 2023

  Replace Rubigula with Moga for the rescheduled Goa GamesStrategy

  Background

  The National Games originally planned for Goa in 2020 were postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic. After Goa was assigned the 37th edition again, organizers adopted a new mascot.

  Action taken

  Authorities selected Moga, an Indian bison, as the official mascot for the 2023 event.

  Aftermath

  The decision supported a new promotional campaign but became the subject of political questions about the cost and rationale of the change.

  Source

• 2023

  Moga launched as mascot of the 2023 National Games of India[1]Moga (mascot)en.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The Indian bison mascot was unveiled on 18 June 2023 at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Taleigao, Goa, alongside the Goan contingent’s official jersey.

• 2023

  Moga promoted the National Games through schools and torch-relay events[1]Moga (mascot)en.wikipedia.org

  Campaign

  The mascot appeared at a Panaji school and at Mapusa-area torch-relay activities to encourage physical fitness and build public awareness of the Games.

1. 1Moga (mascot)en.wikipedia.org