Happy Streets brings Wakad together for fitness, games and community fun

Wakad came alive on Sunday morning as Happy Streets transformed the stretch between Sai Chowk and PCMC Garden into a bustling community space filled with music, games, fitness activities, and families enjoying the traffic-free road. Residents arrived in large numbers from early morning, many delighted by the opportunity to experience their neighbourhood without the usual traffic and noise.

The main stage remained crowded as people participated in Zumba and Bollywood fitness sessions, while the sports arena stayed packed with participants trying their hand at badminton, basketball, football, table tennis, darts, skateboarding and waveboarding with friends and family.

Children enthusiastically moved between Bachpan Gali, snakes and ladders, Ludo, mini golf, mini bowling, hula hoops, giant Jenga and hand-and-foot games in the kids’ arena.

“It honestly felt more like a festival than a fitness event. My son played games for nearly two hours and still did not want to leave,” said Wakad resident Neha Sharma, who attended with her family.

Another attendee, Amit Jadhav, said the atmosphere reminded him of older Pune neighbourhoods where people spent more time outdoors together. “Everybody was talking to each other. Usually, on Sundays, people stay indoors or go to malls. This felt healthier and happier,” Jadhav said.

The fitness arena hosted functional cardio sessions and Indian mudgal workouts, while several groups took part in playful tug-of-war matches. Yoga, meditation, a drum circle, live band performances and a cycling station added variety throughout the morning.

“We came thinking we would stay for thirty minutes. We ended up staying till the end because there was always something happening,” said resident Rucha More, who attended the event with friends from her housing society.