Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: Hundreds of enthusiastic citizens filled more than 1.5 km stretch of road from Master Canteen to Ram Mandir with a range of activities including cycling, skating, and Yoga, among other things Sunday, making the first-ever ‘Raahgiri’ a great success.
The event was flagged –off by Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena and Development commissioner R Blakrishnan, at 6.30 am to the delight of a crowd in the presence of state culture and tourism minister Ashok Chandra Panda, housing and urban development secretary G Mathivathanan, BMC commissioner Krishan Kumar, Bhubaneswar MP Prasanna Kumar Patasani, and Oriya film actor Akash Das,
among others.
“We are planning to hold the event every Sunday from now on at the same venue,” said Krishan Kumar, who came to the venue riding a bicycle, at 6am, in a blue tracksuit, like most of the senior civic body officials.
Krishan Kumar added that officials were overwhelmed by the huge response from the citizens and thanked them for their participation to make the event a success.
Small crowds were seen converging on Raahgiri starting point Master Canteen from early morning bringing cheer to BMC and Bhubaneswar Development Authority(BDA) officials, who had earlier postponed the event multiple times, concerned over participation of citizens.
However, enthusiastic crowds from all walks of life — students, teachers, NCC cadets, volunteers, senior citizens and transgenders made a beeline for the venue.
Officials from Ayush mission conducted yoga coaching for eager people and hospital staff from some of the private hospitals had free health checkups at the event.
But, nothing could match the vigour of the youth who played cricket, football on the city streets and sported their expensive bicycles and acrobatic skills and flew kites and drones which hovered over the wonderstruck public.
Children rejoiced at the event by involving themselves in skating and actively participated in singing and painting competitions with their families.
“The event was fun and I am looking forward to attend the upcoming Raahgiri events, as well,” BJEM student Sadhana Swain said. She had came to venue by skating from her home, in Acharya vihar.
However, about 9 bicycles out of the 100 sponsored by NALCO for the event to volunteers were stolen from the venue, BMC officials said and added that a complaint is to be lodged with Kharavel Nagar police tomorrow.
