BHUBANESWAR: The theme ‘Household Wastes to Useful Articles’ was a hit among the crowd at 15th edition of Raahgiri Day celebrations on Janpath on Sunday.
A life-size elephant made of waste paper bits near the main stage turned out to be the major crowd-puller. Artifacts created from newspaper waste, plastic bottles, boxes and other common waste materials were given the shape of attractive fancy items by volunteers.
Members of an NGO for women empowerment attracted visitors with innovative ideas on reuse of plastic waste.
Plastic bags, sachets and wrappers are usually thrown into dustbins thereby adding to the plastic recycling load of an urban local body. But this can be addressed if citizens improvise and reuse the waste constructively, members of the NGO said. They created paper tiara, hand bags, flower vase and vanity bags using plastic waste.
To mark the World Book Day (April 23), City-based Bakul and Rotary Club of Bhubaneswar (Heritage) organised book reading marathon (Bookathon) which attracted hordes of students. Similarly, tree saplings were distributed to people to mark the occasion of World Earth Day on April 22.
Traditional dance forms like Ranapa and Pailka were also staged by artistes from different parts of the State. Volunteers educated citizens on ways to conserve sparrows which are facing extinction. Besides, clay modelling activities attracted youngsters. Models of characters in Hollywood blockbusters like Terminator and Star Wars were put on display. Renditions by singers from Amakalakar Parivar and Rahul Dhal Praharaj captivated the audience.
Guest of honour on the occasion Editor, The New Indian Express (Odisha) Srimoy Kar flagged off the event at 7 am. Among others, Bhubaneswar MP Prasanna Patsani, MLA Priyadarshi Mishra, Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena and Deputy Mayor K Santi were present.