Ekamra walks show innovative ways to protect environment

Ekamra Walks, the only guided heritage trails in the city, which resumed after more than a month, provided a good platform for creating awareness on safeguarding the environment. The organisers adopted an innovative way to spread the message. At the Old Town circuit area, known for the weekly heritage walks, participants were given eco-friendly pens.

The use-and-throw pens were made of old newspapers and had seeds inside so that when a user disposed them, the pen would decompose and the seed would germinate.
Around 40 visitors took part in the latest Ekamra Walks, which is the 124th walk since its inception a couple of years ago. The programme was kept on hold for more than a month due to cyclone Fani that hit the city hard in the first week of May. On returning from the Ekamra Walks, the participants also pledged to plant more trees in their surroundings.
Pancham P Taank, an engineer, took part in the walk along with his family. He had participated earlier but this time around he decided to provide an opportunity for his family to know the rich heritage of the city. “I liked the idea of distributing eco-friendly pens to participants on the occasion. Bhubaneswar was always proud of its heritage and architecture. The city really needs such innovative ways to encourage its residents to fight for the lost green cover,” he said.
The Khandagiri-Udayagiri circuit of the Ekamra Walks, known as Monks, Caves and Kings, also resumed after a break. The 72nd edition of this heritage trail saw 26 participants from various fields gather at the starting point. A special musical performance, including flute, tabla and vocals, was arranged. It was a major attraction, along with the stories, legends and histories of the Kalingan kings that were engraved on the caves and the structures on the twin hills.