Odia Woman Runs 42.5 km Marathon in Saree in UK
Here’s a story that will leave you beaming with pride for our heritage and culture. Odia woman completes a 42.5km marathon wearing a beautiful Sambalpuri saree.
UK-based Odisha woman ran a 42.5 km marathon in Manchester, United Kingdom on Sunday 16th April 2023 while wearing a saree. 41-year-old Madhusmita Jena Das completed the marathon in 4 hours and 50 minutes. She ran in the marathon wearing a beautiful red Sambalpuri Handloom Saree and orange sneakers. Madhusmita Jena is 41 and she completed the marathon in 4 hours and 50 minutes.
She is a high school teacher in Manchester and a member of the North West England Odia community. She has participated in several marathons and ultra-marathons all over the world. But this is apparently the first time she did it wearing a saree.
A Twitter user shared a picture from the event in which Mrs Das ran along with the other participants. ''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 tribal and folk communities which have been coexisting for centuries. This is a tough phase, let's keep up with peace and harmony,” the tweet reads. Sambalpuri saree is a traditional attire in Odisha.
She revealed that she has been inspired to wear a saree by her mother and grandmother who wore sarees on everyday basis. She wanted to change the idea that it is difficult to run while wearing sarees and hence she ran the entire marathon without any complaints. She also said that, many believe women cannot run wearing sarees but I proved them wrong by doing the task wrapped in a Sambalpuri saree. I anyway wear sarees during summers in the UK. She always inspires us with new feats but this time she went an extra mile by running in a saree. The entire Odia community of the UK is proud of her achievements,” said trustee of UK Shree Jagannath Society. Sachin Das, Madhusmita’s husband, works in Egypt. Her father Nirendra Mohan Jena and two sons were delighted by her achievement. They are all very proud of her.
