Bhubaneswar, March 6: Car rally or Raahgiri -women who ruled the roost today.
Around 100 women drivers took part in a car rally that started from the KIIT campus and concluded at the 7th battalion unit here today. Ahead of the International Women's Day, which falls on March 8, the rally was hosted to "pledge for parity".
All cars were designed on the theme, while the participants also dressed up keeping the theme in mind. The organisers of the rally - Carnival and Seva Prayas Foundation - said they would conduct the rally every year.
Manaja Panda, Harapriya Mallick and Rohini Samantray were awarded first, second and third prize, respectively, for best dress.
On the theme-based car design, Bijaya Bhat got the first prize for "I Am a Corporate Lady", Banasmita Das got second prize for "Women's Education is Women's Empowerment" and Prachi Agarwal Mahajan came third for "Bold is Beautiful" theme.
Commissioner Y.B. Khurania said: "I am glad to see the huge participation and enthusiasm among the participants. Women are quite good drivers and the event proved their mettle on the wheels as well."
The eighth Raahgiri event also celebrated the spirit of womanhood today.
The Bakul Foundation, the city-based organisation promoting library movement, literature, art, heritage and environment, organised a storytelling session titled "Mighty Girls".
The National Alliance of Women, Odisha, staged a show on gender equality as this year's theme for women's day is "Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It up for Gender Equality". "The play displayed the grim reality of the shortage of brides in our society due to female infanticide," said Anshita Musadi, a physician who took part at Raahgiri.
Baroness Julia Neuberger, a member of the British House of Lords and a board member of the Bernard van Leer Foundation, also appreciated the spirit of Raahgiri. "This was a unique event, and I had not seen such a replica even in London. I would be happy if an event like this to promote non-motorised transport could be initiated there," she said.
The day was also marked as Dentists' Day with displays and street plays by the Indian Dental Association, an umbrella organisation of all dentists of the state, to spread awareness on oral hygiene and preventive .
Raahgiri was also hosted in Puri today. Over 30,000 local people gathered for the event hosted by the Rotaract Club, district administration and the Puri Municipality. The entire route from PKD Office to Subhas Bose Square was earmarked for the event.
"We will hold the event every Sunday henceforth. Next week, we will theme the event on peace," said club member Hector Mishra.
GIRLS’ DAY OUT AT RAAHGIRI
Reunion
Raahgiri has become a reunion ground with plenty of people running into old friends after years. On Sunday, while some came across their old school mates, others were happy to meet their college teachers or distant relatives, whom they haven’t seen for years
Beggar menace
With Raahgiri being open for all, many beggars also popped in at the venue, disrupting the mood of the event. Many people were unhappy with this. “My kids are here and I want them to be safe,” said homemaker Arpita Mohanty
Stars shine
Many people attend Raahgiri to get a glimpse of politicians and popular screen stars who come to the event. Those who attended the event on Sunday caught a glimpse of Odissi dancer Kumkum Mohanty, MP Prasanna Patasani and mayor Ananta Narayan Jena, among others
Filthy affair
While the community cleaning initiative after Raahgiri was introduced three weeks ago, people were hardly seen cleaning up after the event. Most of them departed immediately afterwards, passing the cleanliness buck to the civic staff
It’s all music
Visitors immensely enjoyed renditions of Western and Hindustani music. While the stage near Master Canteen Square turned into a venue for rock, jazz, Western pop, Sufi and Indipop, the stage opposite Ram Mandir hosted Hindustani, Carnatic and Odissi music events.
Compiled by Anwesha Ambaly, pictures by Ashwinee Pati
