Independence Day: High on patriotism, biker groups to vroom on Delhi-Gurugram roads

Kite-flying, patriotic competitions and extended sleep hours on August 15 are now a thing of the past with bike rides being organised on Independence Day. The celebration of freedom has thus found a new cool concept, and city dwellers can’t stop talking about the feeling of watching or riding motorcycles with flags tied on them.

“My usual routine on August 15 used to include flying kites, and more or less a sleeping through the day because it’s a holiday. But, now since I have started participating in Jashn-E Azadi Freedom Ride, the meaning of celebrations on this day have changed for me,” says Anish Katyal, a Delhi-based digital advertising expert.

Katyal has been participating in bike rides for about eight years now, but it’s recently that he decided to be part of bike ride on a national holiday like August 15. “We bikers ride every Sunday morning so we thought why not also ride on Independence Day because we are as enthusiastic about our freedom as about bike rides. Also, people like to follow what we do. So, we thought that when they see that being owners of different bikes we still ride for one cause, they would also want to do the same than indulge in rash driving or attempting stunts,” says Katyal.

Jashn-E Azadi Freedom Ride will flag off from Qutub Minar this time.

Organiser of Jashn-E Azadi Freedom Ride, Ashok Sahota, says the basic idea of organising this ride is that people should celebrate this day. “People in general should come out and celebrate this day. We started this ride to motivate people, and now we have planned to make it a regular feature. And this year, H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) members from the Armed Forces Chapter will lead the ride.”

For motor bike enthusiast and a member of the Royal Mavericks motorbike group, Tarique Afaque, it was also important to make people realise that Independence Day is not just another holiday to sleep till late. “This is the 12th edition of Nation Salute Ride, and the number of participants has crossed 200. Since motorcycling is our calling, we believe that’s the best way to show our patriotism towards our country. So we organise this event for like-minded people with whom we share motorcycling as a passion, and salute our nation. It’s a wonderful feeling to sustain despite the political pressure,” says Afaque adding that this year the ride will be escorted by well-equipped motorcycle ambulances.

Fashion designer Saurav Priyadarshi, who is organising the Ride To Freedom — Celebrate Independence, says that people need to “break free from their regular schedule”. “This is the first time we are organising Ride To Freedom on August 15, and it will have about 500 participants from multiple groups. Many riders who stop by at our café, already ride in the morning; so we thought that it’s important to ride for freedom, too. To make the celebration of Independence memorable, riders will also bring along old books, clothes and toys, and donate them to the needy, at the end of the ride.”

This Independence Day, Jashn-E Azadi Freedom Ride will take flag off from Qutub Minar and end at MG Road; Nation Salute Ride will begin from Shanti Stupa in Indraprastha Millennium Park and end at Mannat Haveli in Murthal, Haryana; Ride to Freedom is planned between Ambience Mall, Gurugram and Throttle Shrottle Café on Gurgaon-Faridabad Road (GFR).

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First Published: Aug 14, 2018 11:37 IST