Pimpri-Chinchwad: Women Run In Navari Saree at PCMC Marathon
Mrunal Jadhav
Pune, October 6, 2020: Women clad in Navari saree (nine yard saree- Maharashtra’s traditional saree) participated in a 5 km marathon organised by Lokmat Maha Marathon Virtual 9 yard Run in Pimpri Chinchwad. Eight women were part of this run. These women had started their fitness journey by walking and running. By managing time for fitness amidst all the daily chores, children are a difficult task; but the lady runners upheld the importance of fitness for staying healthy.
Snehal Deore, an assistant manager in finance and a mother of two, actively participated in this run. She had joined the Spine Sprinters group in January 2020 due to some health issues and to be fit again. “It was fun being a part of the marathon. I completed a 5 km run in a Navari saree; such a great experience. I was not even able to walk for 100 meters due to my weight. I had a passion for running but was not able to do so because of some issues, family, job, household responsibilities, children. Then finally I joined the group at Spine road called Spine Splinters and ever since I start my exercise at 4 am with my friends daily,” said Deore.
“I always had huge support from my husband. He too joined me for exercise. So my daughter always takes care of my younger son when I go out for exercise or sometimes when I am late. She is just 11 but manages everything, which is an inspiration for me to keep my passion continuing.” added Deore, who accomplished her journey from a non-runner to 18-km runner.
Yogini Dhumal, a teacher by profession, also known as the ironwoman of her group, started running in 2017 when she came in contact with other PCMC runners. It is a group of middle-aged women with a passion for running. “We all had a great experience and enjoyed it. It was a bit difficult for us to handle traditional attire. Those who did not have 9 yards saree wore 6 yards saree but dressed with all the ornaments gracefully with a Nath (Nose pin). Being an enthusiastic woman we all carried it easily. We did not aim to finish the race first but focused on attire, run, fun and maintaining the grace, beauty and respect for Maharashtrian Saree. Hats off to all those historical women who fought for the nation by carrying all accessories in 9 yards saree that too on a horse,” said Dhumal adding a say ‘Chaha Hai Toh Raha Hai (Where there is a will, there is a way)’.
Preethi Narayan started running in 2016 and has been associated with PCMC runners since 2019. This group was the primary reason, Narayan challenged herself and got the best out of her. She is a business development manager at a software consulting firm in Pune. Sharing her experience of the marathon she said, “I registered for the marathon just to have some fun run with my PCMC woman co-runners. But after the run, I felt it was more than just fun. I felt a sense of liberation in just seeing so many women wearing the attire and run for fitness. Everyone enroute watched us run. In a way, it was a statement that adopting fitness is not about giving up on our traditions but an attempt to keep our rich culture alive.”
Adding to it she said, “managing home, work and fitness would have been impossible without the support of my family members. Over the years, my in-laws and husband have also adapted to a healthy and fit lifestyle. It in turn reflects in our family ethos of helping one another by planning family time and sharing household chores to make at least one fitness activity a daily routine for each of us.”
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