An occasion for togetherness

Mukesh Tandon

‘Raahgiri’, an initiative of the Panipat district administration, is changing the mindset of Panipat city residents. It is serving as a platform to bring togetherness, and harmony and provide an occasion to people to enjoy themselves. 

Hundreds of children, teenage boys and girls, middle-age persons and senior citizens can be seen participating in various activities of ‘Raahgiri’ every time.

Ten editions of ‘Raahgiri’ themed ‘Mera Panipat Fit Panipat’ have been organised at the Sector 13/17 ground in Model Town and at the HUDA ground at Sector 25 in Panipat city. It is being organised with the support of various social organisations and educational institutions of the city. 

Schoolchildren present cultural programmes in Haryanvi and Hindi while people participate in archery, badminton, football, horse riding, skating, cycling, taekwondo, kabaddi, volleyball, and boxing on roads. 

Besides, aerobics, zoomba, yoga, safety measure for household awareness, and sapling distribution with games are other highlights of the programme.  

Elderly and middle-age people, girls and boys can be seen enjoying traditional games such as ‘pitthu garam’, marbles, tug of war, kite flying, ‘ludo’, snake and ladders, carom board, chess, table tennis and ‘stapu’. They also take part in rangoli making, painting, drawing, sketch making, tattoo art and ‘Gatka’ during ‘Raahgiri’.  

Gaurav Leekha, a member of the core team of ‘Raahgiri’, says that Panipat is a business city and no one has time for social interaction but ‘Raahgiri’ provides a platform to persons of all age groups to enjoy themselves. Many people meet others at ‘Raahgiri’ for the first time though they have been neighbours in Panipat city for long, he adds. 

Veena Chaudhary, a resident of Model Town, says, “Raahgiri is not merely an event; it is a source of entertainment and I keep on waiting for it to get refreshed. There are a variety of sports and cultural activities to take part in to bust stress”.

Another city resident Deepak Saluja says, “Panipat people were fed up with negativity of routine life but ‘Raahgiri’ has recharged them with positivity”.

Mohit Bajaj, a businessman, says, “Raahgiri is a great initiative and is the need of our city. Everyone is under stress due to business, job, and family issues but this three-hour programme brings smiles on their faces”. 

‘Raahgiri’ organised every third Sunday has helped in changing the mindset of people, claims Bajaj. The important characteristic of the event is that everyone comes there to enjoy himself or herself, he says. 

Praveen Nandal, world champion in body building, says, “It was a good experience for me because I believe in the theme of fitness. The three-hour activities give the message of fitness of mind as well as health to all residents”. 

Deputy Commissioner Sumedha Kataria says the main objective of the programme is to provide a stress-free atmosphere to people, increase their happiness quotient, ensure the participation of youths in positivity, and provide a safe and pleasant platform to common families in the city. 

Panipat ‘Raahgiri’ secured the first position in the state due to the number of public participants, says Sumedha. 

“There was no venue or platform for common people in Panipat city where they can live freely, safely and pleasantly but through ‘Raahgiri’ we have been able to provide them a big platform,” she claims. 

There are 31 core team members, including eight officers of the district administration, who voluntarily manage the complete arrangements of ‘Raahgiri’, says the Deputy Commissioner.  She says, “I had discussed the idea with some people in the city and due to their support we organised our first ‘Raahgiri’ within three days”.