Japanese tourist leads Puri beach cleanup mission, raises awareness

Akie Doi, a music and yoga teacher from Kanazawa, Japan, fell in love with Puri during her maiden visit to Odisha in 2022. Since then, she has made regular visits to the state. Her visit this time has turned into a mission for cleanliness, as she is picking up garbage from the Puri beach to keep the seashore tidy, drawing the attention of locals, reports Debabrata Mohapatra. After arriving in Puri about two months ago, Doi, 38, has been collecting rubbish from the beach area while encouraging others to use waste disposal facilities. She displays a banner featuring Lord Jagannath's image with cleanliness messages, which she carries throughout the Puri marine drive to raise awareness. "I simply love doing it. The administration has engaged sweepers, who are lifting garbage and keeping the beach clean. I am doing my bit to keep our environment clean," Doi said.