BHUBANESWAR: More than 35,000 people turned up for the third edition of Raahgiri Day here on Sunday morning. The event started with a cake cutting ceremony to mark the Capital’s win in the Smart City race.
Odia film actor Archita Sahoo, who is also the brand ambassador of Smart City programme, cheered the crowd and participated in the programme organised by Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation in association with Bhubaneswar Development Authority, Commissionerate Police and Odisha Tourism.
Apart from the huge response to the activities on the 1.2 km stretch between Master Canteen and Ram Mandir Square on Janpath, new games like Hoopla and fitness activities like Zumba and aerobics were a major hit among the public.
Yoga groups, institutions and universities participated in large numbers to promote fitness and wellness. Students from 25 schools of the City came with their posters and displayed those on the Janpath.
The State Khadi Board demonstrated a ‘Charkha’ and other products for public to mark the 68th death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The products included Khadi products, handicrafts and different forest produce collected from across the State. A cricket tournament was organised between media and the teams of BDA and BMC teams in which the former was the winner.
Later, Mayor AN Jena announced that more Government agencies from different sectors will be involved in Raahgiri Day celebration. The civic body’s health officials also cleaned the stretch after the event.
The event was inaugurated by Higher Education Minister Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy, Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Chandra Panda and Lok Sabha member Prasanna Patsani.
Legislators, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister UN Behera, Principal Secretary (Home) Asit Kumar Tripathy, DGP KB Singh and Police Commissioner YB Khurania were the guests at the event.