Publish date: 15 August 2025
To round off South Asian Heritage Month, we have one final staff story to share. Last week, our colleague Dr Tina Dutta Gupta completed a ‘saree walkathon’. This was in celebration of Indian National Handloom Day in London - a tribute to the artistry, history, and continued importance of India’s handloom industry.
From the loom to London; a celebration of sarees
By Tina Dutta Gupta, Specialty Doctor, Ealing Mental Health Integrated Network Teams (MINT)
I, Dr Tina Dutta Gupta, a doctor working in the Trust for nearly 2 years, came to the UK from India around 16 years ago and settled in the British soil, embracing its culture and customs but still emotionally connected to my place of origin through its rich heritage and tradition.
Every year, we feel proud to celebrate the South Asian Heritage month (SAHM) in the UK. SAHM 2025 ‘s theme is “Roots to Routes”. To reflect on this theme, we have chosen the iconic traditional garment of the Indian subcontinent, saree (or sari), a long, unstitched piece of fabric, usually in bright, vivid colours, draped gracefully by women of this region.
This elegant garment is considered one of the oldest surviving forms of clothing in human history with its rich origins traced back to over 5,000 years ago in eras such as the Indus Valley Civilization. Although sarees are deeply rooted within Indian culture, this culturally significant garment is worn across several South Asian countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal, each of which has its individual draping styles, textiles and cultural meanings. Sarees are not limited to only these five countries as it has gone global - becoming popular in countries like the UK, USA and others.
A woven map of memory
Saree is considered not a mere fabric but a woven map of memory - tracing routes across regions, generations and oceans thus bringing true meaning to the theme “Roots to Routes”. It also stands as a powerful symbol of how we carry our culture, tradition and heritage with us - sometimes folded neatly in a suitcase, sometimes draped with pride on special days and always held close to the heart. They are not just worn but they are inherited, celebrated and remembered, by returning to our roots, even if we are thousands of miles away.
When we, the South Asians, migrated to different countries including the UK, the saree accompanied us, either folded in our luggage or wrapped around ourselves, and became the symbol of resilience and identity. In these unfamiliar lands, it offered a connection to our festivals, languages, customs, tradition and heritage, left behind. For many, the first saree comes from a mother or grandmother and thus the family legacy is being passed on to the next generations.
A saree, worn at a wedding, a religious ceremony or even as a regular attire, becomes a part of our identity. Over time, this beautiful clothing has undergone adaptations, fusions and improvisations which led to people wearing it with sneakers at protests, layering with jackets at British weddings, thus blending tradition with modernity. Even those who do not wear sarees try to keep one to themselves as a symbol of deep, unspoken bond as well as a reminder of their ancestry, belonging and heritage.
A Saree Walkathon
While exploring our roots to routes, the saree reminds us that our identities are layered, flowing and resonant with history. Whether it is handed down, bought for a milestone occasion or worn in solidarity, each saree has a story to tell. During this South Asian Heritage month, to celebrate the threads that tie us to the roots, I participated in an event - “Saree Walkathon” at the Tower of London in the evening of 6th August 2025, organised by the Inspiring Indian Women (IIW), a non - profit organisation in the UK and India, supported by British Women in Sarees (BWIS), UK and Swadeshi Sakhis.
Around 50 women of South Asian origin, including me, joined this event after work, flaunting our vibrant sarees and walking with pride, purpose and identity through the Tower Bridge in London. This was also to commemorate the Indian National Handloom Day celebrated on the 7th of August in the country. These women, wearing different handloom sarees from all over India with intricate handpainting and embroideries, showcased the vast handloom heritage of India, highlighted the mesmerising skills & artistry of the weavers & artisans and inspired young generations to embrace and preserve the tradition and culture. I was wearing an exquisite Baluchari saree, a treasured symbol of India’s handloom heritage, which has the detailed weaving of the entire mythological story, Ramayana, representing a canvas of culture and tradition.
This was not a mere walk but an exploration of our identity and belonging; heritage and tradition; legacy and future as well as migration and movement which made the celebration of SAHM 2025 meaningful.
