PANAJI
Architect Gita Balakrishnan, founder of the Ethos Foundation, has begun the APNA ARCAUSE Purple Walk Goa 100 – a 100 km walk from S S Angle Higher Secondary School, Canacona, to ESG, Panjim. The walk is a prelude to the International Purple Fest, to be held in Panaji from October 9 to 12, 2025.
The walk was flagged off by Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Ramesh Tawadkar, Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Dessai, and Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities Guruprasad Pawaskar. Students and staff joined the first leg, symbolising the spirit of inclusion promoted by the Purple Fest.
Tawadkar said, “The Purple Walk and the International Purple Fest show how commitment and collaboration can make accessibility real and visible.”
This is Gita’s sixth Walk for Arcause, after covering over 2,600 km across 13 states. Her walks, featured in her book 1700 in 70, aim to bring architecture closer to people and raise awareness on inclusion and universal design.
Organised with the Asia-Pacific Network for Accessibility (APNA), the initiative highlights accessibility as a right, not charity. The Purple Fest, co-organised with the United Nations, will feature accessible concerts, films, art, and workshops promoting Goa as a national hub for inclusivity.
