Raahgiri Day provides citizens an opportunity to reclaim their streets from motorized transport and connect with their community through activities like cycling, walking, running, and playing. The event described focused on inclusion by showcasing the abilities of persons with disabilities and involving spectators. It was organized in line with the Prime Minister's initiative for inclusive development and aimed to celebrate life through community leisure activities along the closed streets. A first-of-its-kind Raahgiri event for persons with disabilities was held in New Delhi and similar future events are planned for other major cities to encourage acknowledgement of creative abilities regardless of ability.

1. 4/19/2015 Raahgiri Day
data:text/html;charset=utf­8,%3Cp%20class%3D%22content_title%22%20style%3D%22margin%3A%200px%3B%20padding%3A%205px%200px%3B%… 1/1
Raahgiri Day
Mar 04, 2015
Raahgiri Day provides citizens with the opportunity to reclaim their streets, connect with their
community, celebrate their city and therefore reclaim their lives. However, the Raahgiri Day
celebrated today was special because it involved participation in cultural and sports activities
predominantly by Persons with Disabilities. Today's was an effort to create an inclusive
environment by way of showcasing the diverse range of unique abilities of the differently­abled
children/ persons at the same time involving all the people witnessing the events. This event
was organised keeping in mind the spirit of Prime­ Minister’s initiative "Sabka saath Sabka vikas"
which includes the persons with disabilities.
The concept is inspired by “Ciclovia” held weekly in Bagota, Columbia and now popular all
over the world known by different names viz. Open Streets, Summer Streets, etc.
The streets identified for Raahgiri Day are cordoned off for motorized transport and
made safe for the citizens to cycle, walk, run, skate, play and enjoy the streets.
Children and adults are invited to bike, skate, run and walk; to partake in community
leisure activities such as street games, street dancing; to learn yoga, aerobics and
zumba (for which stages will be setup at intervals along the route); and to come
together as a community and celebrate life.
A first of its kind event "Raahgiri day for the persons with disabilities" was organized
as a unique initiative this morning at the Connaught place in February by the
Department of Empowerment of persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment, Government of India.
The Department of Empowerment of persons with disabilities in collaboration with State
Government will soon be organising similar such Raahgiri for persons with disabilities
events in major metro cities like Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Mumbai in near future.
People from all walks of life are invited in large numbers to such events to encourage
and acknowledge the creative abilities of the differently abled.