Around 1,000 people will run to Save Ganga in Rishikesh on May 25 and May 26. Intensifying its move to save Ganga, the Tourism department in association with a company would organise a Half Marathon likely to be attended by some well-known faces of the State.
Half Marathon and ‘spiritual run’ is an effort to showcase the beauty of Rishikesh and Holy River Ganga to all visiting runners. Simultaneously, there would be focus on creating awareness among the masses for saving the River Ganga. Organisers, including Tourism department, Running and living Infotainment and Hotel Ganga Kinare, are confident that the event will draw attention of the people towards the cause of Ganga.
Opening ceremony of the event to be organised as ‘Save the Ganga’ campaign will take place at Hotel Ganga Kinare where all the registered runners would gather. All of them would be apprised with the facts as to why everyone should come forward for the cause of the river. The registered runners will be given their running gear and bibs.
The spiritual run, on May 25- first day, would cover five km from Astha Path to Triveni Ghat and back. The run will start at 5 pm and the participants would run through the Triveni Ghat and the Astha Path when entire city gets ready for the evening aarti.
Regional tourism officer Yogendra Kumar Gangwar said, “Evening hour has been chosen for the run so that it could draw attention of maximum number of people gather in the town to watch the aarti. Our main focus is on creating awareness among the people to save the holy river Ganga. The run is going to serve our purpose up to some extent since it would create awareness among a large section.”
He said that all the participants would get a timing certificate and medal after the event. On May 26, the assembly point for the runners would be the main gate of Himalayan Hideway camp near Shivpuri at 4.30 am. The runners will run on the road for about five km till the Malakunti Foot Bridge where they will cross over to the other side of Ganga. They will then take the goat’s route towards Kota village and come back all the way to Malakunti Bridge where the run would conclude.
Gangwar said, “People should know that their little efforts could be great help for saving the river. They should not drop plastics and rappers in the river. At the same time, they should also make aware their friends for the same. Thus, the little efforts would bring big results in future.”