Guwahati — From inspiring youths to take up adventure activities to garnering resources for deprived children and taking home interesting anecdotes, the rally saw it all.

Christened Catan Rickshaw Run, the gruelling two-week rally on autorickshaws covering north and Northeast India culminated in Shillong Saturday.

A 10-member team from America, Germany and France had embarked on the tour on four autorickshaws from Jaisalmer in Rajasthan on April 6 through Jaipur, Agra, Kanpur, Varanasi, Patna, Siliguri and Guwahati across 3,100 km en route to the Meghalaya capital.

The run, held thrice a year, completed two decades this year. The origin of the term Catan can be traced back to a place called Catania, an Italian city on the east coast of Sicily, where it is believed that the general population of the land were mostly adventure loving.

The Assam leg of the Catan auto rally was organised by Child Aid Network, a German NGO working for the uplift of deprived children in the country, in collaboration with Don Bosco Province of Guwahati.

The participants, who left for their respective countries today, are taking home memories that would inspire them to return, reported The Telegraph.

“The rich culture, tradition and diversity of India left me spellbound. Every region we visited had a story to tell,” said Katja Ermitsch from Germany.

As for Charlotte Melki, the lone participant from France, her dream of an elephant ride during the rally was fulfilled. “That’s something I will cherish for a long time,” she said.

The team, which entered Assam from Siliguri on April 15, had thereafter halted at Gossaigaon, Kokrajhar, Amguri, Damra and Boko. Around 100 local motorists had joined the Catans in the Assam leg.

“Our mission is to spread the message of peace and harmony among different ethnic groups of the region and build bridges. We also aim to dispel the stereotypical perception that the Northeast is a conflict zone,” Martin Kasper, president of the German NGO and co-ordinator of the Assam-leg of the rally, said.

The participants were felicitated at Don Bosco School on Saturday after a traditional welcome by a Bihu troupe. “We welcome the Catan riders and thank them for making their momentous rally a part of the bicentenary celebrations of St John Bosco,” Fr Sebastian Mathew, principal, Don Bosco School, said at the function yesterday.

One among the four autorickshaws, however, had met with an accident, colliding with a container truck while entering Shrirampur from Siliguri for their first (Assam leg) halt at Gossaigaon.

American Cathy Boherty of Philadelphia had injured her left eye and left wrist in the mishap. “I am determined to complete the journey,” she said, prior to leaving for Shillong yesterday afternoon.

“The Catans is an incredible team with indomitable spirit, persistence and perseverance,” Fr V.M. Thomas, provincial, Guwahati province, said.