The second Happy Streets event organized by The Times of India brought a day of vibrant fun, fitness, and creativity to Kadri Park Road in Mangaluru on Sunday. The streets were filled with energy as kids, parents, professionals, and people from various walks of life came together to celebrate health, happiness, and community spirit.
The event kicked off with a calming yoga session by Yoga House Mangaluru, led by Deepak V Naik, introducing participants to the peaceful practices of meditation and relaxation. Following the peaceful start, the atmosphere quickly became high-energy with an exciting Zumba session led by Akshay Sherigar from Zumba Fitness Studio. The dance-based workout energized attendees across all age groups, with even the emcee, Mithesh, joining in with his own energetic moves. “Zumba is not just a workout, it’s also an entertaining dance experience,” Sherigar said.
The event reached a high point with a fun and competitive Bhima Mannequin Challenge, where French tourist Stephanie Poli and assistant sub-inspector B Chandrashekhar from Mangaluru East Police earned prizes for their impressive performances.
Young visitors were delighted to meet Bagira, a 7-year-old horse, and Maithri, a 4-year-old pony from the Mangaluru Horse Riding Academy. Meanwhile, martial arts students from the Institute of Karate and Martial Arts showcased their impressive skills, and performers from Revelation Studio Inc. dazzled the crowd with a hula hoop display.
The community also got a taste of self-defense with a demonstration of Krav Maga, an Israeli martial arts technique for women, presented by Achman Skills of Life. In addition, attendees enjoyed a creative painting studio set up by local artist Anudeep Karkera, where children could explore their imaginations through art. The popular event saw the addition of more booths to accommodate the growing interest.
Local officials also joined in the festivities. Mangaluru City Police DCP Sidharth Goyal praised the event, stating, “It’s a great morning where I could see a lot of energy. Events like these are a reminder that we should run Happy Offices just as much as we run Happy Streets.” DCP (Crime & Traffic) K Ravi Shankar emphasized the importance of fitness, saying, “Everyone should spare at least an hour for workouts if we want happiness and health in life.”
Participants appreciated the initiative, with Snehal NK, an IT professional, sharing, “My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed our time at the event.” Rekha Chatterjee, a homemaker, added, “I liked the whole concept of Happy Streets, which brings a good feeling. It was fun to be part of the Zumba, yoga, and meditation activities.”
Radhika Shetty, an entrepreneur, highlighted that similar events in other cities have been a success, and it was exciting to finally have it in Mangaluru. “I took an active part in the exercise sessions during the event,” she said.
In addition to fitness activities, children were deeply engaged in creative pursuits. Anudeep Karkera, the artist behind the painting booth, mentioned that children were actively involved, drawing pictures of flowers, bees, cartoon characters, and unicorns.
The event was supported by Mangaluru City Traffic Police and the Horticulture Department, further reinforcing the sense of community and collaboration that made Happy Streets a resounding success in Mangaluru.
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