Over 200 students and teachers from Swaami Vivekananda Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Ramapuram, Chennai, took to the streets on Saturday to promote a smoke-free Bhogi and raise awareness about environmental protection.The rally began in the morning and passed through Bharathi Salai, Easwaran Kovil Street, Bajanai Kovil Street, Valluvar Salai, Giri Nagar and Anandam Nagar, with students carrying banners and urging residents to celebrate the festival in an eco-friendly way.
The event was inaugurated by Chairman K. Minraj, former member-secretary of the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education and former dean of the University of Madras, who applauded the students’ efforts to protect the environment. Participants highlighted the importance of reducing air pollution caused by burning waste materials during Bhogi festivities and called on the community to adopt cleaner, safer practices.
The rally, which aims to instil environmental responsibility among youth and the public, was conducted with support from the Ramapuram R11 police station and Valasaravakkam traffic police to ensure safety along the route.