‘Saree Walkathon’ to see hundreds of women come together to celebrate National Handloom Day

A women’s organisation based in the UK is set to organise a unique celebration of Indian weaves, coinciding with National Handloom Day, through a ‘Saree Walkathon’.

The walkathon will take place in central London, starting at Trafalgar Square towards Parliament Square on August 6, a day before National Handloom Day in India.

Approximately 500 women, adorned in a variety of vibrant and diverse Indian weaves, hailing from different states of India, are anticipated to participate in the walk, passing by some of the most iconic landmarks of the capital city.

This event is meant to showcase the beauty and elegance of Indian handloom and promote it, as it is an integral part of the Indian culture.

Dr Dipti Jain of the British Women in Sarees group, which is organising the walkathon with the backing of Inspiring Indian Women (IIW), said, “The modern Indian woman of today believes in traversing the world beyond her cocoon and she does all that and more in a saree while redefining the codes of power dressing.”

She added, “The British Women in Sarees is a group of empowered women who take pride in flaunting handloom sarees and representing the unique cultural melting pot that is India. It is a not-for-profit organisation which likes to organise events to promote our national heritage and make everyone around the world aware of the toil, handwork and artistry which goes behind weaving each of these masterpieces.”

The ‘British Women in Sarees’ is a collective of empowered women who proudly showcase handloom sarees, symbolising the rich cultural diversity that India embodies.

In June of last year, the group arranged a vibrant saree event during ‘Ladies Day’ at the Royal Ascot horse races in Berkshire, England. Hundreds of women from the Indian subcontinent came together, adorning their colourful sarees along with the traditional English headgear associated with the occasion.

“As residents of the UK, we felt elated and proud of the inclusivity that the stage provided us to pay homage to our roots, India,” added Jain.

A team from Kerala will also be brought in and are being coordinated by Dr Deepa Hegde, Dr Hema Santhosh and Shirley Gibson alongside 30 other members. Their plan involves showcasing the traditional handloom Settu Mundu and sarees, which they have directly purchased from the weavers in the state.

Additionally, a traditional dance from Kerala at Parliament Square is also being organised, where the walkathon will conclude with a tribute to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

National Handloom Day is celebrated annually on August 7 as a tribute to the handloom-weaving community of India and highlights the contribution of this sector to the socio-economic development of the country.