Kalimpong, Nov. 14: Bravehearts here got a piece of the action as they rode the rapids from Triveni to 29th Mile as the Darjeeling carnival switched venues to Beni, around 18 km from Kalimpong.

The not-so-strong-hearted, who preferred to watch from the safety of the banks, were content seeing professionals demonstrate their river-crossing, river rescue and kayaking skills.

Kalimpong MLA Gaulan Lepcha and Kalimpong additional superintendent of police S.K. Gazmer also joined in the thrills and spills of the ride at Beni. DGHC tourism and private tour operators provided the rafts.

“More and more people are showing an interest in rafting. The carnival will promote white-river rafting as a tourist activity,” DGHC tourism assistant director D. Pariyar said .

“River rafting is completely safe and we have experienced river guides in each raft. Other people stand by to rescue rafters in case of an accident. Till date, however, we have had no nasty incidents,” said D.K. Rai, manager of the DGHC-run Chitrey River Rafting Centre.

Sanjay Sharma, 18, said: “It was a wonderful experience. This was my first time and I will not let go of an opportunity to go rafting again.”

Angling contests were also organised with prizes for the first catch, biggest and second biggest catch. Beach volleyball and a tug-of-war competition were also held later in the day.

As a bonus, anglers were taught how to cook fish the traditional Lepcha way.

Food freaks also got the opportunity to exercise their tastebuds and sample lip smacking momos (a Tibetan dish). Later in the day, the Darjeeling police band and Darjeeling-based rock band Reincarnation played a diverse range of music providing sound entertainment to the audience.

“The local people provided immense support to the entire event,” said S. Soodh, one of the coordinators of today’s programme from Kalimpong.