Various groups and members of the society gathered at the Gandhi Park on Sunday to support the concept of an eco-friendly Diwali. The local student activist group, Making a Difference by Being the Difference (MAD) had invited all citizen groups present in Dehradun and sections of the citizenry to Gandhi Park on Sunday evening.
A number of MAD volunteers reached the Gandhi Park carrying posters and slogans. The group had also earlier appealed to other citizen groups to join them in this combined effort at Gandhi Park to bring together likeminded people who would give the message of an eco-friendly Diwali.
Many groups responded favourably to the appeal and reported in considerable numbers. Those that responded to the calls included Apne Sapne, Neo Vision, RTI Club, the organisation of the dependents of freedom fighters, social justice and human right organisation, Sanyukt Nagarik Sangathan, Akhil Bharatiya Samanta Manch, Doon Residents Welfare Front, Amulya Jeevan, IIPC and Maiti Svayamseva Sangathan.
Giving a message of fighting asthama, bronchitis and finding sustainable ways to celebrate festivals, MAD members appealed to all citizen groups to join them in giving the same message.
Citizen groups responded favourably to the call and agreed to the call for having an eco friendly Diwali. They joined the group in taking out a brief march from Gandhi Park till Clock Tower and back to show a sense of solidarity, support and civic sense to common citizenry to celebrate an eco friendly Diwali.
MAD founding head Abhijay Negi, Shipra, Karan Kapoor, Saurabh Nautiyal, Vinod Baghiyal, Satvik, Sharad, Daksh Rawat among others were also present on the occasion.