There was a nip in the air as over 17,000 youths ran from the National Stadium across Lutyens’ Delhi on Sunday morning to promote “oneness”.
Organised by Nirankari Foundation, the participants carried messages of ‘tolerance’ ‘humanity’, and ‘peace', and covered a distance of 8.4 kilometres.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, “Sixty-five per cent of India’s population is under 35 years of age and the youth is India’s main asset.”
He called the ‘Run for Oneness’ a precursor to the ‘Run for Unity’, a nationwide marathon planned on the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on October 31.
Peaceful co-existence“The objective behind ‘the Run for Oneness’ is to promote peaceful co-existence despite all kinds of diversities. When we collaborate for a noble cause like oneness, we can certainly make a positive contribution to shape the future of our communities,” said Hardev Singh of Nirankari Mission.
The run was flagged off by Arjuna awardee Sunita Godara, a 1992 Asian Marathon Champion. She holds the record for running the maximum marathons by an Indian.
The programme began with a cultural programme by children on the theme of oneness.
