The onset of spring marks Gudi Padwa, the New Year for Maharashtrians. It is also the time when women take the lead on the city's roads as they come out in large numbers on their bikes and scooties, decked in the traditional navvari saree and pheta. This year's open-for-all bike rally in Ghatkopar on Saturday organised by travel company HikerWolf aims to unite and inspire women, while raising funds for the upliftment of girls. Proceeds will be donated to orphanages for girls across the city.

Born and brought up in Thane, founder Smit Desai, has gr­own up watching his mother and neighbours follow this empowering tradition. "But people rarely have time for it these days," he adds.