Hyderabad, Sept 29: Hyderabad is set to witness a unique Tiranga Ahimsa Car Rally on October 2, bringing together more than 200 cars and over 1,200 participants in a 23-km-long, highly disciplined convoy to celebrate the Birth day of 1008 Pujya Acharya Gyanchandra Ji Maharaj Ji birthday and Gandhi Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri and Jain monk Pujya Gyanchandra Muniji, besides observing the United Nations’ International Day of Non-Violence.
The UN observes October 2 as the International Day of Non-Violence, marking Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday and promoting the universal message of peace and non-violence.
The organisers have invited Hon’ble Chief Minister Sri A. Revanth Reddy to be the Chief Guest and flag off the rally. His confirmation is awaited.
Mr. Mahesh Bhagwat, senior police officer has consented to be the Chief Guest at the closing ceremony, according to the organisers.
Organised by Shri Vardhaman Sthanakvasi Jain Shravak Sangh, Greater Hyderabad – Kachiguda, the rally is being positioned as an inclusive public initiative, with people from different faiths and backgrounds expected to participate.
The organisers describe it as an attempt to bring the values of Ahimsa, peace, brotherhood, religious harmony and national unity into a public celebration.
The rally will begin at 6:30 AM from Jal Vihar, Necklace Road, and cover approximately 23 km through some of Hyderabad’s major roads before returning to Jal Vihar for the closing ceremony at 9.30am. The proposed route will pass through Secretariat, Tank Bund, Ranigunj, Paradise, Begumpet, Somajiguda, Raj Bhavan Road, Khairatabad and Lakdi-ka-pul, before concluding at Jal Vihar.
The organisers said the rally will be conducted as a strictly disciplined convoy and not a race. Every participating vehicle will be allotted a number and participants will be required to maintain their designated sequence throughout the rally. The convoy will maintain a speed of approximately 10–20 kmph.
Three DJ vehicles, positioned at intervals of roughly 50 cars, will play patriotic music throughout the journey.
Every participating car will carry the Indian Tricolour along with the Jain religious flag, while many vehicles are expected to be specially decorated for the occasion.
The organisers said special categories will include senior citizens’ cars and women’s cars, making the rally representative of different sections of society.
In a special inclusive initiative, orphan children will be invited to experience the rally in luxury and vintage cars participating in the convoy.
The organisers have appealed to NGOs working with orphan children to come forward and nominate children for the experience. Several luxury and vintage cars are expected to participate in the rally, offering the children an opportunity to be part of what the organisers describe as a “Jolly Ride for Peace.”
Participants will carry placards conveying messages such as “Live and Let Live,” “Love All, Hate None,” “Bhai Charay,” “Jal Hai To Kal Hai,” “Swachh Bharat,” and messages promoting national integration, religious harmony, peace and responsible citizenship.
The rally will highlight the timeless Jain message “Ahimsa Parmo Dharma” and the spirit of “Live and Let Live,” alongside the Gandhian philosophy of non-violence.
The organisers said the broader message of the rally is: “Nation First, Religion After.”
They said the initiative is intended to convey that while faith is a matter of personal belief, peace, national unity and responsible citizenship are shared responsibilities of every citizen.
The organisers said considerable attention has been given to safety and traffic discipline. Every participant is being screened, while valid driving licences and vehicle insurance are being checked before participation.
An ambulance will accompany the rally throughout the route. The organisers said the convoy will be coordinated in a manner intended to minimise inconvenience to the general public and ensure that ambulances and emergency vehicles are not obstructed. Participants will be instructed to follow traffic rules and maintain their assigned position in the convoy.
There is no participation fee for the rally. The organisers said the entire initiative is being funded by the organisers and supported by like-minded organisations so that people can participate without any financial burden.
The organisers are also encouraging families, young people and citizens from different communities to participate in the event and join the collective message of peace and national unity.
The decorated vehicles will also compete for recognition for their creativity and presentation.
The first, second and third prizes will carry cash awards of ₹5,000, ₹3,000 and ₹2,000, respectively. In addition, seven consolation prizes of ₹1,500 each will be presented.
The rally is inspired by a similar initiative undertaken by the Jain community in New Delhi a few years ago. The organisers said the Hyderabad initiative has been conceived to create a distinctive public expression of Ahimsa, national pride and unity in diversity.
The Grand Tiranga Ahimsa Car Rally is being coordinated by Chief Conveners Manoj Kothari, Dharmendra Nahar, Prashant Kocheta, Anraj Batna, Nemichand Bukhiya, Suresh Gundecha and Prem Kothari, who are overseeing the planning, coordination and execution of the rally.
Sponsors
The rally is supported by several sponsors and well-wishers. Pravesh Motors, authorised dealer for TVS 3-Wheeler, is the Title Sponsor of the event. Ridhi Builders, represented by Kanthilal Dharmendra Nahar, is supporting the event as the Flag-off Sponsor. Gokul Udyog, along with Vinod Kumar, Vikram and Anurag Khimti, are the Breakfast Sponsors, while Shanthi Forex is the Gift Sponsor.
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