Mangaluru: As part of the annual Rainathon , around 100 participants , including 50 from Bengaluru, participated in a 23-km walk at Kolodi near Neriya in Belthangady to experience the beauty of rain on Saturday. Aapti Patwardhan, a core member of Rainathon, told TOI, “This rain walk is a gathering of like-minded people, mostly from Bengaluru and locals. This was the 16th rain walk, and we traverse a designated stretch without harming nature .
We play in streams and fields and also undertake seed ball and sapling plantation programmes. We conduct two rain walks each year.” There are no restrictions for participation, except that participants must be over the age of eight.
The key rule is that they should not wear rain protectors or warmers; everyone must wear regular slippers, not high-end footwear. T-shirts and a bag containing water, salt (for leech bites), and chocolates are provided. The cooking team supplies tea and lunch, which are served at various points during the walk.
Before the rain walk, a 45-minute humanitarian assembly was held where two local achievers, environmentalist Sachin Bhide and Yakshagana artist Bhujabali, were felicitated. Aapti said, “The concept behind the event is to gift oneself a day amidst nature, fully embracing the rain without raincoats or umbrellas. It promotes mental well-being and offers a break from the chaotic life while teaching people to coexist with nature without harming it.
During every rain walk, participants cover 20-30 kilo.
