Happy Streets Pune - A Times of India initiative

Happy Streets in Pune is an initiative led by the Times of India group to get the residents out on the streets on the Sunday morning and interact with each other rather than just going to the malls or the cafes. For this special day, the streets are cordoned off and no vehicular movement is allowed and people are allowed to do whatever they enjoy doing. On selected weekends Happy Streets takes place in different locations across the city - Aundh, Pimple Saudagar, Kalyani Nagar, Kothrud, Pune Camp etc.

Update: The next and the LAST Happy Streets events in Pune will take place at Aundh.                            
The schedule is as follows:
Date: 26th May 2018
Venue: Balewadi High Street, Baner
Timings: 6.00am to 9.30am


Happy Street Pune baner october
Happy Street Pune

Happy Street Pune ITI road kid clycling
A young cyclist at Happy Streets Pune :)

The idea is also to get the kids get excited about and to get them involved in numerous outdoor activities. And not to mention the senior citizens for whom this is an excellent opportunity to be out with the family, meet like minded people and also participate in many health activities like group Yoga.

Happy Streets is also supported by the Pune Police, the city's traffic police, Pune Municipal Corporation, Embarq, The Times of India and Maharashtra Times to drive home the importance of safe walking and cycling infrastructure across neighbourhoods in the city and to encourage people to use non-motorised transport (Ref: TOI). In the past Pune was always known as a city of cyclists, but with booming urbanization and construction activities, the habit is dying out. I do hope this initiative will help revive it.

My Sunday being Happy on Happy Streets

While I walked on the Happy Street of Pune, I could immeiately feel a positive and happy vibe. There was so much enthusiasm on part of all the participants as well as the organisers. Just as you start walking into the main part of the street, a stage a visible with some very enthusiastic dancers on stage leading a group of hundreds of Pune citizens to groove their bodies. There were kids, youths as well as much older people as well. The energy was almost enthusiastic.

Happy Street Pune Yoga elderly
Yoga - learning Surya Namaskar

A part of the walk was reserved for cyclists and skate-boarders and I was much impressed to see them zooming past the crowd, almost tempting me to borrow a skateboards from one of the kids. I am glad I didn't as I am not sure if it would have supported my weight and if I could have actually balanced myself on it! Moving on there was a small football ground which had small kids learning a few tricks from older guys in uniform. From afar I could also see shuttles flying in the air, and these were from a number of badminton enthusiasts who had managed to find some space on the busy street to play the game.

Happy Street Pune selling flowers
You can also buy flowers on Happy Streets :)

Happy Street Pune drumming dude djembe
A drumming session on!
There was also a drumming booth where kids were also given tips and also allowed to try their hands on the drums. I personally enjoy drumming, and was actually really happy to see youths taking time out to train the young ones. Another thing I was impressed was the well organized Yoga camp - a group of three women led the camp and people of all age groups were participating. If you also want to participate, just carry a Yoga mat and wear comfortable clothes and you too can join in. I am not a Yoga expert but it did seem fun to do it early in the morning with a big bunch of like-minded people.

Practical information for Aundh

Location: ITI Street and DP Road, Aundh
Timings: 7 am to 10 am every Sunday
Cost: All the activities are free of cost
Activities: Zomba dancing, Cycling, Skateboarding, Running, Yoga, Drumming and more
Recommended clothing: Light clothing, shorts and tee shirt are best
Parking: Park near Chroma, or you can also park on one of the lanes on the side of ITI road (I parked in the lane just before Fabindia)

And if you there next Sunday, do leave a comment below and let me know how it went :)

Happy Street through a video!

I was at the Happy Street event in Aundh recently and made this video about it. And if you do like the video, don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to my channel as well :)







Comments

  1. Is it there tomorrow too? 3 Jan?

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  2. is it there in Aundh on 10th Jan?

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  3. Is it there day after tomorrow, Sunday, 10th January?

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  4. Is it there on 10th January?

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  5. Can I Get All Locations For Every Sunday In Pune?

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    1. Unfortunately I don't have the details Swapnil...will try to make a calendar and update the site. Do give me sometime...

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  6. Siddharth When is the next event in pimppe saudagar Kokane chowk

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    1. Hi Tanisha, I do not know as yet. I shall update as soon as I get an update from TOI.

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  7. Even tomorrow happy streets in kalyani nagar???

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  8. Even tomorrow happy streets in kalyani nagar???

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  9. Hi Siddharth, this is great post to know about Happy Streets. Myself Chetan Agrawal from Pune. I want to participate in Happy Streets by making a 3D Street art. Can you please let me know the procedure to participate? Whom should I contact?
    For my work, visit http://3dstreetartindia.com

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    1. Why don't you attend an event and talk to the organisers? It might be very useful :)

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  10. Hi Siddh... I m an professional Anchor and Can contribute to Happy Street... Will definitely add spice to it. Pls let me know whom to contact?

    Sanjay

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  11. Hi Siddh... I m an professional Anchor and Can contribute to Happy Street... Will definitely add spice to it. Pls let me know whom to contact?

    Sanjay

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    1. Hi Sanjay, I don't know why exactly to contact. It might be useful to go to one such event and talking to the organisers. They might be able to provide leads...

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  12. Hi Siddharth. Is this up on 21st February on DP road, Kothrud? Can you in brief tell me about what to expect at the event?

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    1. Hi Pratima, this is on 21st Feb. As for the event, it would be similar to what I have described from the event in Aundh...there could be some other things as well...

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  13. When is the next event? is it @ 28 of this month

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  14. When is the next event? is it @ 28 of this month

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  15. Replies
    1. It's at Shrikant Thakare Road (near Kumar Parisar), Kothrud...

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  16. When is the next event at 13 of this month

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  17. Where is the event gonna happen tomorrow? Sunday March 13th?

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  19. Hey Siddhartha Joshi can u tell us plz where is event gonna happene tommorrow 13th of march 2016?

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  20. is it in aundh on next sunday?

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  21. Can u tell me the date and venue for the next event

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  22. When there is happy Street in aundh
    Can you please tell

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  23. Hi .. Where is the Happy Street on the coming Sunday 26th Feb 2017

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  24. when is the next happy street event? Is there any planned for 5th march sunday?

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  25. where is the next event in march can u please share the details

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  26. Where is the happy streets tomorrow on 12th march 2017 ?

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  27. Wer is the next happy street on 19th march ?

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  29. Where is Happy Street on 25-26 March 2017?

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  30. is der happy streets in camp????

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  31. Where will be the next happy streets on 14 may 2017

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  32. Where will be the next happy streets on 14 may 2017

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  33. Where is happy street on 21st May?





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    1. Nashik Phata road, Kokane Chowk to Swaraj Chowk, Pimple Saudagar

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  34. Is it scheduled on 28th may 2017 ??

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  35. Where is happy street on 28th May?

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  36. When is the next event in Aundh or baner?? After 4th June

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  37. Hello .....aapne post kiya tha k 11-6-17 ko happy Street hoga at m.g road,Aurora tower.
    aaj mein aur mere dost and kaafi saarein dusre log waha the subah subah ....but waha happy Street jaisa kuch bhi nahi hua.....kaafi log pareshaan hua..,hum Aurora tower SE leke Mohammad rafi chowk tak Jake aaye waha kuch nahi tha,mera group and bohot saarein dusre log Jo Pune mein new hai kaafi pareshaan hua ,thanks for this😤....if you are not sure please don't post ,many ppl get distracted. Aap khud ek travel enthusiast person and dusre travel enthusiasist ko misguide karna shobha deta hai kya?

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  38. Will this amazing event be coming up again?

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  39. Hi any happy street planned for kharadi area pune

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  40. Currently, this event is scheduled on 26th Nov, 3rd and 10th Dec 2017 at Balewadi High Street, near Cummins India Office campus, Baner, Pune. It is around half km away from Balewadi phata. I visited this place today and asked one of the volunteers over there. I got the information from him only.

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  41. When is the next one n location ?

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  42. When is happy street after 21st jan 2018?

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  43. Where will it be on coming Sunday 28 January
    -from Pune

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  44. When the concept of Happy Streets was started at Pune?

    Is Pune the pioneer

    Are there any copy cats- any other city followed

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    1. I do not think so...but you will have to check on this. Other countries in the world also have this..

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  45. The next happy street is at Aundh on 4th Feb. Same timing. Enjoy

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  47. where is happy street on 6th of January in Pune?

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