City cyclists got into Navratri mode with a navrang ride

The celebrations of Navratri may have been low-key this time as there were restrictions over outdoor gatherings due to pandemic. Mumbaikars still found a fun (and safe) way to enjoy themselves. So while some continued with virtual sessions of garba and dandiya, others got innovative. Take the case of this group of cyclists who did a navrang ride , where they marked each day of Navratri , dressed in the colour of the day.

This community ride ensured a burst of colour, fun and fervour across the 24 wards of Mumbai, including Bhandup, Mulund, Bandra, Borivali and Gorai.

It turned out to be a mood-lifter: Mumbai Bicycle mayor

Giving details of their innovative ride, Mumbai bicycle mayor Firoza Suresh says, “Navratri is all about light, hope and festive bonding. So the city’s bicycle councillors chalked out a plan, where riders wore the specific colour associated with each day of the nine-day festival. It turned out to be a mood-lifter at a time when everything has been low-key, including festivals, due to the pandemic.”

The enthusiastic turnout since the themed rides started last weekend on October 17, added to the excitement. It was a new experience for homemaker Farnaz Adani. “I started riding after 20 years, so it felt good to be part of the community ride. It was nice to see everyone dressed in the same colour.”
Firoza adds, “On day one, the colour ode was grey, but the mood was far from that – we all had a blast. Then next day, Sunday, we rode towards Mumbai North, where over 100 riders in orange, from Malad to Dahisar, embarked on a trail that culminated at a joggers’ park in Borivali. The next day, the cyclists wore white and so on. It has been like a blaze of one colour as cyclists did a 8-km ride across all the wards in the city.” They are now looking forward to the culmination of the navrang ride that will take place at Carter Road today.

Jalebi-fafda,bun-maska add fun to the festive trails

The Ghatkopar cyclists club also undertook a navrang ride, after sharing the plan on their social media group. Informs cyclist Pankit Fariya, “We were missing the usual Navratri celebrations as there were no garba or group gatherings this time. We decided to celebrate it on wheels and make it as festive as possible. So, on day one, all the cyclists brought Gujarati khana from home with dishes like handvo, khichu, patra and jalebi-fafda . We had a traditional breakfast after the ride. And that’s the pattern we followed as we cycled to different places like Haji Ali, Mount Mary’s and Eastern Express Highway among others, in the Navratri colour of the day.”