Odisha Women to Hoist Tricolour atop Mount Yunam on Aug 15

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Friday, 7 August 2026

Eleven women from Odisha are preparing to undertake a challenging expedition to Mount Yunam in Himachal Pradesh where they will hoist an Indian National flag, 80 metres long, at the height of 20,100 feet on Independence Day. The all-women expedition honors patriotism, strength, and the empowerment of women, while inspiring more women and young people to embrace adventure and strive for greatness.

The team consists of five experienced mountaineers, five first-time climbers and 13-year-old Aradhya Jena who has signed up for the mountain activity and adventure course to reflect the growing interest of young girls in mountaineering. The journey is expected to highlight the spirit and determination of women from Odisha on one of the challenging peaks of the Himalayas.

The climbers will take a well planned route through Solang Valley, Jispa and Bharatpur and finally head to Camp-I where they will start the climb to the peak of Mount Yunam. The team will adhere to all safety measures during the expedition, as well as ensuring its activities remain eco-friendly and promoting teamwork to ensure a successful and safe journey.

Key Highlights

• Eleven women from Odisha will climb Mount Yunam this Independence Day
• The team will hoist a giant Indian flag at 20,100 feet
• The team underwent months of training for the challenging Himalayan climb

Anita Swain heads the expedition, and feels that it is more than a climb. “The mission is a chance to showcase the capability, commitment and potential of Odisha women”, she said, adding that it will give greater confidence to young girls to aspire to become capable.

“This is an opportunity to display the capabilities of the women from Odisha through teamwork and dedication at ‘Mount Yunam'. Flying the national flag on top will become our way of paying tribute to the country and a message for young girls – dreaming is limitless," said Anita Swain.

The team has been in months of intensive training to be physically and mentally prepared for the rigors of high altitude climbing. Their training program was a combination of endurance training, strengthening exercises, altitude acclimatisation, technical climbing practice and discipline for climbing on a mountain expedition.

AASA Secretary Ganesh Jena said the expedition was a result of months of continuous efforts and meticulous planning.

The team has prepared extensively for this expedition, every aspect of their preparation has been based on fitness, high altitude acclimatisation, climbing discipline and safety, he added, "the team is well equipped for this important expedition”.

The expedition also demonstrates how women have become a very strong section in the field of adventure in the last decade or two in Odisha. Women and young people have been encouraged to join in with trekking and Himalayan treks, and to become leaders in the outdoors, through local mountain organisations.

Reacting to this, Sanket Communications Managing Director Subhasish Tripathy said that such inspiring moves are good to be encouraged from society.

“Their efforts and bravery are inspiring, and their success will prove to be a source of inspiration for many young people, particularly girls, to pursue their dreams and aspirations with confidence and determination”, he said.

The expedition itself is a testament to women's leadership, strength, and patriotism as they embark on their journey. These women are not just attempting a remarkable feat of mountaineering by attempting to raise the Indian tricolour on top of Mount Yunam on Independence Day, but they are also sending a strong message that women can do the same with determination, preparation and courage in all areas.