Naina Adhikari

Pravahini Foundation

Building Confidence, Leadership & Resilience

Pravahini Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by Indian whitewater kayaker Naina Adhikari to empower women through kayaking and river-based outdoor education.

We work to build a deep connection with nature among young women from underserved communities. We believe the river is a powerful teacher, creating safe spaces for girls to challenge themselves and discover their own strength.

Non-Profit Organization
Flagship initiative: Ganga Girls
Upcoming: Project Shakti (2026)

Empowering The Next Generation

Our Journey

2023

Ganga Girls launches as India's first all-girls kayaking expedition, led by Naina Adhikari, now the Foundation's flagship initiative.

2024

The team completes the Bhagirathi to Nim Beach expedition, and the Ganga Girls documentary ties for first place at the Kayak Session Short Film Awards.

2026

Project Shakti is set to launch, offering kayaking and river immersion as a space for healing for survivors of human trafficking.

Founder & Director

Pioneering Women in Whitewater

Meet Naina Adhikari

Naina Adhikari is one of India’s pioneering women in whitewater kayaking and the country’s youngest competitive female whitewater paddler. With a career spanning some of the world’s most iconic rivers, she has represented India at two World Championships and two World Cups.

A two-time winner of the Ganga Kayak Festival International Kayak Championship and recipient of the Teelu Rauteli Award, Naina has spent over a decade breaking barriers in a male-dominated sport.

"Today, she is committed to using her journey to inspire the next generation of paddlers and to create access and opportunity for those historically excluded from adventure sport, especially underprivileged girls."