Fifty women started a bicycle rally from Cuttack on Monday and will reach Puri on Tuesday. An initiative by the sports and youth affairs department of the state government, the rally aims to promote adventure sports and create awareness about environmental safety.

The cyclists started their journey from Phulnakhra and reached Kalinga Stadium on Monday evening after making pit stops at Rama Devi Women's University and Red Cross Bhavan. Several sensitisation programmes and cultural events were held at the stadium where the women spent the night before leaving for Puri next morning.

"This is a new experience for us. It is a lot of fun cycling together and interacting with people on various social issues," said Mamali Mallick, a Plus-Three student and one of the cyclists.

A group of 50 men had begun their journey on November 2 from Sambalpur and reached Rourkela on November 4. Another men's team with 50 cyclists had started from Angul on November 5 and will reach Paradip on November 8.

All these cycle rallies are part of the birth centenary celebrations of former chief minister Biju Patnaik.

 

Text by Anwesha Ambaly
Picture by Ashwinee Pati