With a pledge of ‘one country, one constitution, one flag, har ghar tiranga’, ‘The Great India Run’ flagged off from the iconic Lal Chowk in Srinagar on Friday evening. The relay-run will cover 829 kilometers across 4 states from Srinagar to New Delhi from 5 to 15 August. The run celebrates the 75th ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ and the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign.
An initiative of iTV Network, the run builds on the success of the first chapter of the Great India Run held in 2016. The run was inaugurated by the Lt General of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha and Rajya Sabha member Kartikeya Sharma from historic Lal Chowk. . In support of the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, the LG handed the lead runner a national flag after unfurling it at the venue.
The first leg of the run is being led by Arun Bhardwaj, an ultra-marathon runner. At the Flag off, LG Manoj Sinha praised the runners and wished them all the best. Kartikeya Sharma congratulated to the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign’ and encouraged people from all over the country to come and join the run during its various legs. “I am thrilled to be here at Lal Chowk with the LG Manoj Sinha to witness the ‘Great India Run’ flag off. This run is being dedicated to the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign to mark our ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
My best wishes to hundreds of runners who will be running for India and encourage all fellow Indians to take part in mini runs during various legs.”
Kartikeya Sharma also said, “it is a tribute to the J&K establishment, central forces, police and Indian Army that such an event can take place in Lal Chowk. It shows the hope for the future of a New India. I’m looking forward to see the runners carrying the Indian flag all over the country and play their part in making the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign a success.”
The venue for the run was decorated with 75 Indian tricolours to mark 75 years of Independence. The route covers Banihal, Patnitop, Mansar Lake, Dinanagar, Hoshiarpur, Rupnagar, Ambala Cantt before finally culminating it in Delhi on 15 August. Full details of the route are available at the twitter handle @TGIR2022. Daily coverage of the run will also be visible on national media.
Some of India’s most iconic sports legends including P.T. Usha, Anju Bobby George, World Championship Medalist, Vikas Krishan, Asian Gold Medalist, Manu Bhaker, Commonwealth Gold Medalist, Sunita Godara, Asian Marathon Champion, Zeeshan Ali, National Team Tennis Coach, Rohit Rajpal, India Davis Cup Captain, Aditya Khanna, Indian Davis Cup Player, Yuki Bhambri, Junior Australian Open Winner, Prerna Bhambri, Indian Tennis Player, Aman Dahiya, Indian Tennis Player, Riya Sachdeva, Indian Tennis Player, Ashish Khanna, Indian Tennis Player, Akhil Kumar, Commonwealth Champion, Kuldeep Malik, Wrestling Coach, Shamresh Jung, Commonwealth Champion, Arjun Babuta, Shooting WC Winner, Digvijay Pratap Singh, Indian Tennis Player, Madan Lal, Former Indian Cricketer, Saba Karim, Former Indian Cricketer and Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Former Indian Cricketer will be part-taking in the various legs.
The culmination ceremony will be held in New Delhi on 15 August with Union Minister Jitendra Singh as chief guest