Ever donned a salwar-kameez and taken part in a walkathon? You might find the idea amusing, but The Desi Culturethon is a one-of-its-kind walkathon, where the participants will highlight the awesomeness of walking in Indian attire and that too, for a noble cause. Organised by the Inner Wheel Club of Bengaluru South and supported by the Tourism Board of Karnataka, this event will see around 300 participants take to the road in their most vibrant desi outfits.
I got this idea when I saw the video of Milind Soman’s mom running barefoot in a saree very comfortably going viral. I wanted the younger generation to feel a sense of pride in flaunting our culture. The fact that our Tourism Board is supporting the event endorses our offbeat idea of promoting our tradition,” says Rekha Sridhar, president of IWCB South, adding, “We will have a 3k and a 5k walk. The participants can come dressed in any Indian attire — either traditional or contemporary. We have had a positive response so far and people are excited about being a part of a unique experience like this.”
This walkathon won’t just promote our culture, but will also raise funds which will be used to restore a 100-year-old Government school building in Attibele and construction of a toilet block for a Government Girls’ High School in Dommasandra. “It’s a shame that young girls are dropping out of school due to lack of proper toilet facilities. By constructing a toilet block for the teens, we hope to give them a happy schooling experience,” says Rekha.
Classical dancer Bhargavi Parsam is one of the ladies who will be taking part in this walk. “I like challenging myself with new fitness goals and ethnic is totally my style. At this event, I’ll get to flaunt my style and also walk to get fit,” she shares.
For Padmini Nagachandra, district vice chairman, there’s no better way to spend a Sunday morning than walking with a group of enthusiastic Bengalureans. “It makes me happy that it is healthy, showcases our beautiful Indian Culture and to top it all, it is for a great cause,” she expresses.
This ‘Mustt Majja Maadi’ walk will take place on Sunday, May 7th and will kick off at Cubbon Park at 6.30 am. So, gear up to bring out your best traditional get-up and walk the desi way.
