“Clean Air, Next Year” : The Beauty of Vehicle Free Delhi As Thousands Run Past India Gate Today!
ASHISH KEDIA (PHOTO/VIDEO SAURABH SHRIVASTAVA) TENNEWS DELHI
It was a sight to behold, a sight that’s probably happens only once a year, a sight that amazed everyone who witnessed it for the first time.
We are talking about the 10th edition of Airtel Delhi Half Marathon in which over 13,000 people took part and ran through 21 Kilometres on Delhi’s roads.
For this once in a year Marathon, the large stretch connecting JLN and India gate as well as nearby areas was completely cordaned off for vehicular movement as the roads were being washed off and prepared for the Marathon.
The roads on complete route of marathon were washed with salted water in the night and same was also sprinkled shortly before the beginning of marathon at early morning as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVfcnpgOhSw
The excitement for the Delhi Marathon was at its pinnacle since early morning when thousands started to gather at JLN starting point since as early as 4 in the morning.
The Airtel Delhi Half Marathon started from Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium and had Rajpath as it’s centre point.
Every once in a while the slogans of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Vande Materam’ filled the sky as Participants ran iconic past India Gate.
The roads which in general are jam packed with vehicles in normal hours were witnessing packed with pedestrians for a change.
Every marathon runner was full of enthusiasm and the energy kept passing through rows and rows. At moments all one could see were heads and heads, jogging up and down as the stretch was divided to facilitate to and fro movement of the marathon runners.
There were also Dhol and Bhangra parties at selected spots to keep people motivated and energized.
Neither the pollution nor the distance could dampen anyone’s spirit as most participants did actually complete the whole 21 Km long marathon
