New Delhi, Jan 18 (NationPress) The 57th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle took place nationwide on Sunday, once again uniting citizens from diverse backgrounds in a collective celebration of fitness and sustainability. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, led the initiative in Gondal near Rajkot, while Union Minister of Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, oversaw the event in Hyderabad, which attracted over 1,000 cyclists.

Initiated in December 2024, Fit India Sundays on Cycle has swiftly transformed into a nationwide movement, bringing together communities from more than 200,000 locations and involving over 2.2 million participants to date.

In Gondal, around 250 cyclists showed up with enthusiasm, highlighting the initiative's increasing grassroots appeal. Mandaviya expressed on social media, “To make India fit, we have to participate in Sundays on Cycle.”

During his interaction with participants, the Union Minister listened to inspiring stories about how cycling has fostered community connections. Hiten Patel, a 48-year-old businessman, shared that group cycling has become essential in his life over the past three months. “It keeps us energized and connected amidst busy schedules,” he noted.

While addressing the crowd, Mandaviya emphasized cycling's universal attractiveness and its environmental advantages. “Cycling is a perfect exercise for all ages. It enhances health and minimizes carbon footprints. When individuals come together to cycle, it nurtures a community spirit that is crucial for a healthy society,” he stated.

Reiterating the broader national vision, he mentioned that a physically and mentally fit populace is vital for achieving the dream of Viksit Bharat, as envisioned by PM Modi.

“A nation is only as strong as its people. To shape the Viksit Bharat we aspire to, we must ensure every Indian reaches optimal physical and mental fitness so they can contribute to national development. This is the vision that our Honorable Prime Minister Modi has set for us,” he added.

In Hyderabad, the event at Gachibowli Stadium was attended by esteemed figures and sports icons, such as badminton legend and Dronacharya Awardee Pullela Gopichand, Arjuna Award-winning shooter Esha Singh, and Paralympic bronze medallist Deepthi Jeevanji. Numerous athletes, Fit India Ambassadors, and cycling leaders were recognized for their efforts in promoting fitness.

Speaking at the event, G. Kishan Reddy underscored the necessity of reintroducing physical activity into modern lifestyles, echoing the Prime Minister’s call to address obesity, lifestyle diseases, and mental stress through daily movement.

“A Healthy India is our Hon'ble PM Narendra Modi’s ultimate goal, and through the Fit India Mission, we are committed to reversing health issues stemming from modern lifestyles. Today's changes in diet, physical inactivity, and environmental factors are contributing to the rise of obesity and mental stress,” he remarked.

“To combat this, the Prime Minister has urged citizens to decrease cooking oil consumption. While technology has simplified life, it has also diminished the physical activity that kept earlier generations healthy; we must intentionally reintegrate movement into our daily routines,” he added.

Pullela Gopichand commended the initiative's consistency and scale, citing it as a testament to the leadership of PM Modi and the Sports Minister. “Maintaining such a movement for 57 weeks across hundreds of thousands of locations illustrates how sport and fitness can drive both personal and national progress,” he stated.

The Hyderabad event also showcased Zumba, yoga, rope skipping, Kudo martial arts, and Mallakhamb demonstrations, creating a lively fitness carnival atmosphere.

Launched on August 29, 2019, the Fit India Movement aims to integrate physical activity into daily life and initiate lasting behavioral change. Sundays on Cycle continues to advance this mission while aligning with the Prime Minister’s call of ‘Fitness Ki Dose, Aadha Ghanta Roz’ and advocating for eco-friendly, low-carbon lifestyles.