“Put your front foot forward and walk with poise”- That is how one is taught to walk gracefully when wearing a saree. But what if the exact saree is used for sports?
A Charity run breaking the stereotype of sport was held at Georgetown, Penang. This run was organised by Persatuan Perkhidmatan Masyarakat Ceylonese Selangor Dan Wilayah Persekutuan (Perma) and Warriors Give Back, an outdoor fitness company Warrior Fitness & Adventure’s charity drive About 25 participants in traditional attires participated and were enthusiastic about wearing the saree and veshti, while running. The 5km charity run kicked off early at 8 am on a Sunday. (Nov 20).
Penang Saree Run coordinator Malini Nagarajah, 52 said the charity run is focused to raise public awareness towards promoting healthy and charity-driven activities. ‘To run in sarees for charity is an innovative and refreshing expression of a rich and cultural legacy. Many of the runners turned to social media to learn about saree-draping ways techniques. There were non-Indians as well who participated and got their sarees well draped’, added Malini.
One of the participants, Kelly Khoo, 59, shared her saree running experience. “Running in a saree was a challenge compared to my usual sports attire and workout outfits. Nevertheless, we should never view the saree as a deterrent to running and fitness. I have always had the misconception that one can’t run in a saree as it hinders mobility and affects running performance.However, the charity event truly changed my perception, and I was amazed at how the runners broke those barriers. So my advice is, ‘Don’t overthink, just do it,” said Khoo.
The charity run experienced a mixture of good racial participants. Also along the run, there were many supportive Penangites who cheered for the participants and even asked what celebration it was! Well, it’s a celebration driven by a good cause.
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