In the first of its kind, the Diamond city came alive as women from all states participated in the ‘Surat Saree Walkathon’, draped in various kinds of sarees, walking for the cause of fitness. The sunny Sunday morning of 9^th April, 2023 was particularly special as the lovely ladies of the Zoroastrian Women’s Assembly of Surat or ‘ZWAS’ (Keshmira Kharadi, Gulshan Chiniwala, Pearl Wadia, Piloo Bhathena, Benaiffer Engineer, Daizy Patel, Armaity Charkhawala, Benaifer Patel, Dilnaz Besania, Nilufer Bavaadam, Vahishta Engineer, Afrin Ambapardiwala and Delzeen Bavaadam with trustee Maharukh Chichgar’s inspiration and boosting) were all readying up to participate in the history-making, first chapter of The Surat Saree Walkathon.

This ambitious event was sculpted by the Surat Municipal Corporation and Surat Smart Citi Development Ltd.; and envisioned by Mayor – Hemali Boghawala; Municipal Commissioner – Shalini Agrawal; and Minister of Railway and Textiles – Smt. Darshana Jardosh. The excitement was palpable, even as roads were swept clean, with policemen taking their positions, media reporters hurdling to get their bytes at the huge Police Parade Ground (starting point), which hosted a whooping deluge of 20,000 women, all clad in their traditional sarees to participate in the Walkathon. Soon, the green lawns were covered with vivid colours of sarees of participants, who walked via Parle Point and returned to the starting point.

ZWAS’ lovely participant had all heads and eyes turning as they entered the venue, flaunting their gorgeous Garas – instantly becoming the centre of attraction, exuding that good-old bawa charm, amidst much camaraderie and laughter… to quickly become the cynosure of the event!

The Walkathon began with a unique warm-up session – ‘Yog Garba’, following which the Walkathon commenced with the ladies being provided refreshments at regular intervals, alongside live music bands to cheer them on.

In a statement to Parsi Times, ZWAS shared, “The Surat Saree Walkathon was not just an event – it was a statement – that being women is more than just feminism, or our rights or demanding power! This walkathon is to remind one and all that women are born powerful but do not claim it. The Saree Walkathon was a strong message that while women today are modern, strong, educated, health conscious and aware, we still deeply respect and are rooted to our tradition and culture. Saree – the symbol of Indian tradition, was adorned along with walking shoes to state that today’s woman cannot be stopped under the pretext of being a mascot of family tradition, culture and dignity. She is dutiful, but also independent. ZWAS supports the maxim: ‘A Woman Can Build her own Kingdom and Rule it as well!”

 

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[Courtesy: Dilnaz Viraf Besania]