Urban Square Mall brought the people of Udaipur together for a unique Independence Day celebration, creating a 300-foot-wide Tricolour through the hand impressions of more than 10,000 people from across the city.

The community-led artwork was conceptualised and sketched by Urban Sketchers, led by renowned architect Sunil Ladha. Thousands of individual hand impressions came together to form one large Tricolour, turning the celebration into a shared expression of patriotism and community spirit.

Measuring 300 feet in width and 15 feet in height, the artwork was divided into three 100-foot panels representing saffron, white and green. Each section was filled with the actual hand impressions of citizens, making the Tricolour a creation of the people of Udaipur.

The initiative saw participation from several community groups and organisations, including the Udaipur Pink Women Army led by Dr. Archana Shaktawat, BCI Tourism Group led by Shradhha Gattani and Mukesh Madhwani, Urban Sketchers, and schools including St. Matthew School, Prayas, Miranda and Royal Academy. Members of the Riverfront Nav Rattan community, RWAs such as Grace Crystal, customers and mall teams, along with social communities such as Let Us Hopp, also joined the initiative.

Adding to the meaning of the artwork, the mural featured visual references to iconic figures including Maharana Pratap, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, along with other freedom fighters. The artwork connected Udaipur's Mewar legacy with India's wider freedom movement, highlighting themes of courage, unity and national pride.

Commenting on the initiative, Nandini Taneja, CEO, Bhumika Enterprises, said, “We are overwhelmed by the response and participation this initiative received from the people of Udaipur. What makes this Tricolour truly special is that it has been created by the hands of the community itself. More than 10,000 people came together, each leaving their own impression to create one powerful symbol of unity and patriotism. We thank every school, community, resident group, brand partner and individual who became a part of this celebration. At Urban Square Mall, we are proud to have provided a platform that brought the city together in such a meaningful and memorable way.”

The completed 300-foot Tricolour was displayed at Urban Square Mall, turning the destination into a vibrant Independence Day celebration and giving the people of Udaipur a shared symbol created by their own hands. The initiative captured a simple message: 10,000+ hands, one flag and one united spirit of India.

Marking India's 80th Independence Day, Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach, in collaboration with Vizag Runners, brought together Visakhapatnam's running and fitness community for a special 80 KM running challenge and Independence Day Run.

The initiative saw around 100 - 150 runners taking part, including members of Vizag Runners and team members of Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach.

The 80 KM challenge was created as a symbolic tribute to 80 years of India's independence, giving participants an opportunity to celebrate the occasion through fitness, movement and community spirit. The Independence Day Run further added to the celebrations, bringing runners from across the city together in an atmosphere of energy and national pride.

Lakshmi Sridhar, General Manager, Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach, said, “Independence Day is a celebration of unity and the spirit of togetherness. It was wonderful to see our Heartists (team members) and the running community come together to mark the occasion in such an active and meaningful way. The 80 KM challenge was not just about running, it was about coming together as a community and celebrating the freedom and spirit that unite us.”

The event also highlighted the connection between running and community building.

Balakrishna Rai, Founder & President, Vizag Runners, said, “Running has always brought people together through a shared sense of discipline, motivation and community. The 80 KM for 80 Years initiative was a meaningful way to celebrate Independence Day, and we were delighted to see such enthusiastic participation from runners across Visakhapatnam. Our collaboration with Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach made the celebration even more special.”

The initiative concluded with participants coming together to celebrate Independence Day through fellowship and a shared focus on an active lifestyle. The collaboration between Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach and Vizag Runners also showed how community-led activities can add a meaningful touch to national celebrations, bringing people together beyond traditional festivities.

Sunfeast YiPPee! has brought a contemporary twist to Odisha’s rich culinary traditions through ‘Baro Masa, YiPPee! Parba’, an initiative inspired by the state’s celebrated philosophy of ‘Baro Masa, Tero Parba’ (12 months, 13 festivals).

The campaign reimagined 13 iconic Odia festive recipes by blending traditional flavours with the versatility of YiPPee! noodles. Each creation was inspired by a signature festival dish or ingredient associated with Odisha’s monthly celebrations and recreated through innovative cooking techniques, including replacing key ingredients, using noodles as a stuffing, or incorporating them into traditional preparations.

The initiative aimed to offer consumers a new way to experience familiar festive favourites while celebrating Odisha’s diverse food culture.

The 13 festival-inspired creations include:

YiPPee! Posto (Pana Sankranti)
Inspired by Potala Posta, this preparation replaced pointed gourd with YiPPee! noodles cooked in a rich poppy seed (posto) gravy, allowing the noodles to absorb the traditional flavours.

YiPPee! Luna Poda Pitha (Raja Parba)
Inspired by Luni Poda Pitha, this creation combined YiPPee! noodles with vegetables and spices, shaped into a pitha-style preparation while retaining the essence of the festive delicacy.

YiPPee! Dalma (Rath Yatra)
A noodle-based interpretation of Odisha’s iconic Dalma, where YiPPee! noodles were added to the traditional vegetable and Dalma masala preparation to create a unique festive fusion.

YiPPee! Dahi Bara Aloo Dum (Gamha Purnima)
The classic dish received a modern makeover with crispy noodle and rice-based bara served with curd and traditional Aloo Dum.

YiPPee! Saga Bhaja (Nuakhai)
Inspired by the harvest festival preparation, YiPPee! noodles were combined with seasoned leafy greens to create a contemporary take on the traditional dish.

YiPPee! Khichdi (Durga Puja)
The festive staple was recreated by reducing rice and dal quantities and incorporating YiPPee! noodles during the final stage of cooking.

YiPPee! Chaula Bara (Kumar Purnima)
A noodle-inspired version of the traditional bara, prepared by combining YiPPee! noodles with vegetables and spices before shaping and frying them.

YiPPee! Thunka Puri (Bali Jatra)
Traditional Thunka Puri was reinvented with a flavourful YiPPee! noodle stuffing before being fried and served with Chhena Tarkari.

YiPPee! Enduri Pitha (Prathamastami)
The traditional turmeric leaf-steamed delicacy was recreated with YiPPee! noodles replacing the classic stuffing while maintaining the authentic preparation method.

YiPPee! Chuda with Aashirvaad Soya (Data Osha)
This creation blended familiar regional flavours with YiPPee! noodles and Aashirvaad Soya for a contemporary festive interpretation.

YiPPee! Pakhala Bhata (Ispade Mela)
Rather than altering the traditional Pakhala Bhata, YiPPee! created a flavourful noodle-based Choka as an innovative accompaniment.

YiPPee! Ghanta Tarkari (Dola Purnima)
The mixed vegetable preparation was recreated with a thicker consistency and combined with YiPPee! noodles to absorb the festive flavours.

YiPPee! Muga Dali Khichdi (Ram Navami)
The regional favourite was reimagined by blending YiPPee! noodles with moong dal preparation, creating a modern yet familiar festive dish.

Through these 13 creations, Sunfeast YiPPee! showcased the adaptability of noodles while celebrating Odisha’s food traditions, festivals, and cultural stories. The ‘Baro Masa, YiPPee! Parba’ initiative brought together innovation, regional cuisine, and festive experiences, highlighting how traditional recipes can evolve while remaining connected to their roots.