A saree is among the many things that make a desi proud of its roots and culture. Even though some of us clumsy ones still dread wearing the 6 yards of elegance, there are many who can not only walk and function regularly in it but can do so much more wearing a saree.
Earlier, a 56-year-old woman hit the gym and did deadlifts in a saree. A desi dadi also decided to dress up in a saree for a concert in South Korea. In fact, a Kolkata guy took the humble clothing item to the streets of Milan and wore it there with pride.
Now, an Indian-origin woman was spotted running a marathon in the UK, that too donning a saree.
According to a report by Economic Times, the 41-year-old woman named Madhusmita Jena Das belongs to the Indian state of Odisha but has been living in the United Kingdom currently.
She is so proud of the Indian state she belongs to that she decided to get it the recognition it needs. Like a typical Odia, she took her favourite red handloom saree along with her to the foreign land and wore it with orange sneakers to run a 42.5 kilometers Manchester marathon. Das was able to complete the run in four hours and fifty minutes.
Visuals of her comfortably running the marathon in a saree have made it to Twitter.
“Madhusmita Jena, an Indian living in Manchester, UK, comfortably runs Manchester marathon 2023 in a lovely Sambalpuri Saree while proudly showcasing her Indian heritage, she also presents an inviting perspective on the quintessential #Indian attire,” tweeted the Friends of India Soc Intl UK while sharing visuals of her.
Madhusmita Jena, an Indian living in Manchester, UK, comfortably runs Manchester marathon 2023 in a lovely Sambalpuri Saree
While proudly showcasing her Indian heritage, she also presents an inviting perspective on the quintessential #Indian attire@HCI_London @iglobal_news pic.twitter.com/Thp9gkhWRz— 🇬🇧FISIUK 🇮🇳(Friends of India Soc Intl UK) (@FISI_UK) April 17, 2023
People online were impressed by Das’ love for Indian weaving that she took along with her from India. This is how people reacted online:
An Odia living in Manchester, UK ran the UK’s second largest Manchester Marathon 2023 wearing a Sambalpuri Saree !
What a great gesture indeed 👏
Loved her spirit 👍#Sambalpur you have a distinct inclusive cultural identity that arises from the strong association of the… pic.twitter.com/zqsUtQcO4e— dD@$h (@dashman207) April 18, 2023
Saree Jahan Se Achhi🇮🇳
Madhusmita reminds me of my Ayee playing tennis in saree 95 yrs ago or my days of walking to work in it through snow, sleet & wind chunnels in NYC & Geneva. Certain heroism in keeping faith with it for identity or grace or familiarity or all?
Inspirational! https://t.co/r7qUQaPYxH— Lakshmi M Puri (@lakshmiunwomen) April 19, 2023
Excellent 👏👏 proud moment for all Odia people,👍🙏😊
— Chandu Patel (@ChanduP85467255) April 18, 2023
Completing a 42 km marathon itself is a very big deal and that too in a traditional Indian saree is an extra ordinary achievement I must say. Weldon Madhuji !
— Anadishwar Tripathi (@AnadishwarT) April 19, 2023
Very Good, complete marathon at this age with saree is big achievement. Congratulations
— DP PANDYA (@dppandya21) April 19, 2023
Proud moment for Indians and Odisha
— Baldev Prasad Nanda (@NandaBaldev) April 19, 2023
Wow! Running a marathon in a sari! Madhusmitha proud of you!
— FlorencePramilaMoses (@MosesPramila) April 19, 2023
I am extremely happy, as an Odia.
Mu odia, mo bhasha badhia, mo Jagannath,viswa paalia. 🥰🙏— Pramod kumar Dwibedi (@Pramodk40813271) April 19, 2023
Great spirit… Salute to you madam !!
— Goura Chandra Pradhan (@GouraChandraPr5) April 19, 2023
Excellent she maintains her culture, Identify Proud Indian
— Ananthasayanam. K .Tirumalai (@k_tirumalai) April 20, 2023
She so happy feels nice to watch. Also she doesn’t look as tired as others in the pic.
— Vijay Soni (@VijaySo84941921) April 19, 2023
Some users also pointed out that it’s a Maniabandha Khandua saree and not a Sambalpuri saree.
It is a Maniabandha Khandua saree.
— Ansuman Rath 🇮🇳 (@_AnsumanRath) April 18, 2023
Even the Handloom Dept gets it wrong, probably because all media outlets have mentioned it as a Sambalpuri saree. Not all handloom sarees are Sambalpuri. https://t.co/mxHq9jDEHL
— Ansuman Rath 🇮🇳 (@_AnsumanRath) April 19, 2023
https://t.co/rRzseUhQIu
It is not Sambalpuri.— Parashar🇮🇳 (@ParasharNayak) April 19, 2023
Thanks for showing the world the creation of Indian weavers. Kudos to you!