Afew weeks ago, in November 2022, a 56-year-old woman from Chennai became an internet sensation when a video of her working out in a gym wearing a saree went viral. She is seen working out with her daughter-in-law.
In the video that was shared on Instagram, jointly by Humans of Madras and Madras Barbell, the woman is seen working out in the gym – seen lifting heavy weights and dumbbells and working out on other gym machines and equipment – all wearing a saree.
The viral video carried captions that read: “I’m 56 now and still continue to work out. Even your attire shouldn’t stop you from doing what you wish to do! My daughter-in-law and I work out regularly. I was 52 when I first hit the gym. It all started when I was diagnosed with severe knee and leg pain.”
Breaking stereotypes
The video not only garnered great response from netizens who congratulated the woman for working out at that age in a gym, it was also a shout out to women breaking stereotypes, in this case, working out wearing a saree.
The video was captioned: “She’s 56. So what? She wears a saree and casually does powerlifting & pushups! Age is just a number – rightly proves one of the powerful, (young by heart), inspiring mothers-in-law. Her dedicated & supportive daughter-in-law works out with her regularly too. Isn’t this called ‘growing with each other’? How inspiring is this to watch!” The video had received more than a million views and inspired many women, even the young, to be healthy and confident.
Not too long ago, Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Awanish Sharan shared a video on his Twitter handle that went viral within minutes. It was of women playing the physically-demanding Indian sport of kabaddi… wearing saree…even covering their heads with the pallu!
The video, from Chhattisgarh, became an instant hit on social media and garnered a lot of positive response from netizens who were thrilled to see these women playing amid a crowd supporting and cheering them. The tweet read: “Are we less than anyone!!! Women’s Kabaddi in Chhattisgarhia Olympics.”
The video was a display of women empowerment, said one user. Another responded, “Very good recreational activity, every (one) should follow this.” Praising the women, one user commented, “Hum kisise kum nahi Village women playing #Kabaddi #Chhattisgarh.”
Challenging norms
The initiative taken by these women, what some may call challenging ‘traditions’ was actually being themselves. For most Indian women, a saree is integral to their daily lives, where they perform all the chores, they’re supposed to, wearing a saree.
So, a working woman rushing to office, or a homemaker pacing to the market buy groceries, or a woman farmer walking to the fields to perform the most difficult tasks – all do wearing a saree, and without a complain.
For the non-versed and the close-minded, the saree and the women wearing it are put into boxes…into clichéd roles of a housewife, a traditional woman, a bride – a demure woman who will be timid in mannerisms, dutiful and obedient.
For others, a saree is a symbol of sensuality and is often used to accentuate a woman’s body for appeal. In fact, in the West, saree is seen as a ‘pretty’ garment that makes a woman look beautiful. The Indian women living outside of India, use saree as a traditional outfit, wearing it only on special occasions, wedding functions, temple visits, during festivals such as Diwali, Navratri, etc., and family gatherings.
What most forget in that, for Indian women, saree is a garment that they wear, comfortably, easily and can do almost anything draping one.
How many of you can remember your mother, grandmother, aunt or neighbour ‘always’ wearing a saree, no matter what time of the day it is and what season, working incessantly, completing the daily chores of the house and beyond. She can perform any indoor or outdoor activity, effortlessly, wearing a saree.
What may look like a complex and very long garment, that requires fine draping skills and even finer skills to keep in intact while doing ‘anything’, is but a simple piece of clothing for these ‘superwomen’. They won’t think for a second before indulging in what might be a physically-demanding activity. The rest will only judge and draw boundaries for what women in saree can and must do.
The extremes
A few months ago, a video of a young woman went viral. She was performing acrobatics wearing a saree. The jaw-dropping video showed the young woman performing somersaults, where she aced the forward roll and landed on her feet, effortless, in the saree. The performer was an influencer and gymnast from Haryana who, on her social media profile, pronounces herself to be a ‘National Gold Medallist Gymnast.’
In another incident that erased the ‘restrictions’ that come with saree and smashed gender stereotypes, two men in Chicago (USA) wore sarees to their friend’s wedding who was an Indian. While women have often worn make clothing over the years and even made it into fashion choices, the reverse is still in nascent stages and has rare acceptability.
The wedding videographers who were covering the event shared the video on their social media handles and wrote: ”Just a typical wedding morning with the groom’s two best men walking down Michigan Ave in sarees.” The video also shows a woman assisting the men in wearing the saree as they get ready for the wedding. They even completed the traditional look by wearing bindis on their foreheads.
The exceptions
Saree has a global appeal and acceptance where, not just the Indians abroad, but foreigners also embrace it as a gesture of their respect for Indian culture. On the other hand, there are those who consider saree as traditional attire not suitable for all occasions.
In September of last year, a south Delhi restaurant drew heavy flak when it allegedly denied entry to a woman wearing a saree. Apparently, the woman was denied entry into the restaurant because her attire did not fall under the restaurant’s category of ‘smart casuals’ and they could only allow people wearing these into the restaurant.
The woman who was denied entry posted her ordeal on social media. She wrote, “Listen carefully to this video as there is a restaurant in Delhi where saree is not a smart outfit. The humiliation that happened because of my saree yesterday was bigger and heart-wrenching than any other insult that happened to me till now.”
She added, “Saree is not allowed in the restaurant as Indian Saree is now not a smart outfit. What is the concrete definition of Smart outfit please tell me.”
Shocked at the incident, one user wrote, “The problem is not Saree. It is the mentality of an Indian slave protecting the right of entry to some exclusive, whites only pre-1947 club. If it is western, it’s admirable.” Another commented, “Denying entry because the patron is dressed in torn, shredded jeans or is wearing inappropriate footwear is perfectly understandable, but refusing entry for being draped in a saree is absolute stupidity.”