Bhubaneswar, May 1: The 16th edition of Raahgiri today focused its activities on the working class to mark International Labour Day.

A number of cultural organisations held puppet shows, street plays and flash mob on the occasion. Through these art forms, the outfits raised issues related to labourers and the need for labour reforms in India.

City-based Aaina conducted a puppetry show on migrating of women workers, especially those working as domestic helps in metro cities and big industrial belts across India. People's Cultural Centre (Pecuc) organised a street play on the menace of child labour.

With the temperature hovering around 35 degrees this morning, comparatively less than the previous weeks, a large number of people gathered on Janpath for the event.

"The weather is bearable today and so it is not difficult to walk around. We also got to know about a number of labour laws," said Siddhant Kumar, a visitor.

Women in Society Help (WISH), a city-based organisation, conducted a number of activities showcasing the importance of water harvesting. Members of the organisation explained how water crisis was going to create more complicated regional, national and global problems in future and the need for people to be alert while using it.

WISH chairman Anusruta Singh Deo said: "Apart from telling people the importance of water and the need for its scientific and just management, we also created models propagating the importance of rain water harvesting for the urban citizens."

Psychiatrist Pranab Mohapatra, who is making people aware on different mental illnesses at Raahgiri, this week focused on problems of the elderly such as depression, dementia and Alzheimer's disease. "We are concerned about the mental illness of the senior citizens as they are facing serious problems due to the changing social structure and families getting smaller in size. We counselled them and gave them tips on how to stay happy,'' he said.

Students and faculty members of DPS Kalinga created tribal paintings on Janpath to attract the crowd. A campaign for a liquor-free Odisha was also held. Artistes from various reality TV shows performed. Other regular events such as cycling, roller-skating, yoga and painting session were held.