MUMBAI: Amid the early-morning buzz of the Tata Mumbai Marathon on Sunday, an unexpected yet striking presence caught the attention of runners and spectators alike — chants in Samskrit, traditional attire and a cultural campaign led by Samskrita Bharati.The 21st edition of the world-famous marathon, held on January 18, saw 21 runners participating in support of Samskrita Bharati, a voluntary organisation working for the promotion of the classical language. Among them were two volunteers from the organisation — Krishna Dhuri and Neha Hazare — who took part in the run to underline the link between physical fitness and cultural consciousness.Beyond the race, over 30 volunteers of Samskrita Bharati mounted a sustained outreach campaign along the Charity Corridor near Hutatma Chowk between 4.45 am and 9.30 am. Volunteers from across Mumbai — from Goregaon and Badlapur to Girgaon — raised Samskrit and health-related slogans, drawing enthusiastic responses from marathon participants and passersby.This year’s campaign coincided with the 150th year of Vande Mataram, which was chosen as the central theme. Reflecting the emphasis on cultural preservation, several volunteers were dressed in traditional nine-yard sarees and dhoti-kurta. Runners who paused at the corridor were welcomed and felicitated in a traditional manner through aukshan and aarti, a practice continued from previous editions.Informative leaflets on the organisation’s activities were distributed, while volunteers also interacted with citizens and representatives of other NGOs, introducing them to Samskrita Bharati’s work. Many runners said the experience of hearing Samskrit chants amid the marathon added a unique cultural flavour to the event.Samskrita Bharati’s Konkan Prant Mantri Neeraj Dandekar and Sambhashan Shibiram Pramukh Khyati Deshpande were present throughout the programme, along with Vidya Adivarekar and her South Mumbai district team, who coordinated the effort with volunteers from other suburbs.Calling the marathon a powerful platform for outreach, Konkan Sampark Pramukh Haresh Amdekar said the organisation was confident of expanding its activities year after year. “Events like the Tata Mumbai Marathon offer opportunities for service, health promotion and cultural outreach at both individual and organisational levels,” he said.For many Mumbaikars at the Charity Corridor, the fusion of running, tradition and Samskriti made for a memorable start to the day.
