“It all started about 10 years ago when we were conducting regular runs at one of our centres under JJ Active, the largest running academy in India. We noticed something: many women were watching other women run and thinking, ‘Those ladies have it easy. They don’t have the problems we face at home. We can’t run.’ That was the attitude we realised was there. So, we thought, why not show them that we all have the same challenges, whether you’re a regular runner or someone who’s never run before?
We decided to have a day where the regular runners would wear sarees and run the same route. The idea was to make them see that these women—who were running in sarees—also face the same struggles they do. The goal was to say, ‘Everyone has challenges, but you can still make your fitness a priority.’ It was a simple message, but one that resonated.
We started small—just 7-8 women but over the years, it grew. By 2016, we made it a proper event, with around 20-25 women participating. From there, it just started picking up. The only years we missed were the two years of COVID.
When we came back in 2022, we had over 1,000 women participating, thanks to the sponsorship from Taneira, a leading saree brand that supported the event. Their association helped us expand and organise the run on a larger scale. We didn’t want to charge the participants because many women new to fitness don’t understand the ecosystem of running events. They’re not aware of the logistics or why there’s a fee. We wanted to make it free to encourage women from all walks of life to join, regardless of whether they’ve ever run a race before.
With Taneira’s support, we were able to scale the event and took the Saree Run to other cities—Kolkata, Pune, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad. The response in Hyderabad was incredible in the second consecutive year.
One of the most inspiring moments I’ve seen was a woman running with her 4-month-old baby, tied to her in a saree. The baby was sleeping most of the time, but the mother kept running. That’s the kind of dedication we see. We had close to 3,000 women participating in the Saree Run conducted in Hyderabad.
We’re proud to say that the Saree Run has now become a national event. But the core message is still the same: Fitness is for everyone, and it’s never too late to start your journey.
What’s beautiful about the Saree Run is that it’s not competitive. It’s all about participation. You don’t have to run the full distance; you can walk a kilometre, run three—whatever you feel comfortable with. There’s no pressure. We want to remove all barriers and show women that no matter where they’re starting from, they can take their fitness into their own hands. A lot of elderly women who never thought they could run are now joining. And the best part? They’re enjoying it. You’ll see women who, at first, would stand on the sidelines during warm-ups, slowly joining in, getting more involved, and even dancing after the run. It’s no longer just about fitness—it’s about having fun, feeling empowered, and making health a priority.
We’re also not saying that you always have to run in a saree. If women want to wear workout gear later on, that’s completely fine. But we wanted to start by showing them that it’s possible to be fit, even in a saree. We want to encourage women to take that first step.
The Saree Run is not just about running; it’s about changing the mindset of women and encouraging them to prioritise their health. This is just the beginning, and we’re excited to continue spreading this message. Fitness is for everyone, and it’s never too late to start.”
- Mr. Pramod Deshpande, Chief Coach and Mentor