Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], October 1: The Jewellers’ Association (R), Bengaluru — India’s oldest jewellers’ association, with a legacy of 85 years — will lead a Social Awareness Bruhath Rally, “Drugs-Free Bharatha”, on Friday, 2 October 2026 — Gandhi Jayanti — in the heart of the city. Supported by the Karnataka State Police, the rally will begin at 9:30 AM from Town Hall and proceed to Mysore Bank, bringing together jewellers and members of the trade from across Bengaluru.

Carrying the message ‘End drug addiction, save the nation’s future’ and the youth-focused call “Beda Bro… Beda!”, the initiative aims to raise awareness of the growing threat of drug abuse among young people and to encourage families, schools, colleges and communities to stand together against it.

Participants will walk dressed in white, a symbol of peace and a clean, healthy society, in keeping with the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary. The Association has invited jewellers across Bengaluru to join in large numbers and walk together as one fraternity for a drugs-free Bharatha.

Speaking ahead of the rally, Dr. Chetan Kumar Mehta, President, The Jewellers’ Association (R), Bengaluru, said, “For 85 years, our Association has stood for trust, and jewellers have been trusted by families across Karnataka for generations. That trust comes with a responsibility to the society we serve. Drug abuse is quietly taking away the future of our young people, and silence is no longer an option. On Gandhi Jayanti, our entire fraternity is stepping out onto the streets of Bengaluru with one clear message to every young person — Beda Bro, Beda. We thank the Karnataka State Police for their support and invite every jeweller in Bengaluru to walk with us.”

The Association believes that the fight against drugs must go beyond enforcement and reach every home. Through this rally, the jewellers’ fraternity seeks to spark conversations within families, workplaces and the wider community, and to support the efforts of law enforcement in building a safer Bengaluru and a healthier Bharatha.

Event at a Glance

Event Drugs-Free Bharatha — Social Awareness Bruhath Rally
Date Friday, 2 October 2026 (Gandhi Jayanti)
Time 9:30 AM onwards
Route Town Hall to Mysore Bank, Bengaluru
Dress code White
Organised by The Jewellers’ Association (R), Bengaluru
Supported by Karnataka State Police

Committee Members, The Jewellers’ Association (R), Bengaluru

Dr. Chetan Kumar Mehta, President Sri. G.V. SreedharMentor Sri. Ashok Rathod Vice President
Sri. R. SrinivasHon. Secretary Sri. Goutham KothariHon. Treasurer Smt. Megha D Joint Secretary
Sri. N. Vidya Sagar Director Sri. Suresh K Ganna Director Sri. Tushar R V Director
Sri. Kishore M Director Sri. Hardik C Mathuria Director Sri. Vijay D R Director
Sri. Ashok Kumar B R Director Sri. R Madhusudhan Co-opted Director Sri. Urish Chhajed, Co-opted Director
Sri. Rajesh Lunkad, Co-opted Director    

About The Jewellers’ Association (R), Bengaluru

Founded 85 years ago, The Jewellers’ Association (R), Bengaluru is the oldest jewellers’ association in the country and the representative body of Bengaluru’s jewellers’ fraternity. Led by its President, Dr. Chetan Kumar Mehta, and an elected committee, the Association works to uphold trust, ethics, and excellence in the jewellery trade while contributing to social causes that benefit the wider community.

For more information, please visit https://jab.org.in

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