The boardwalk near the Raritan Yacht Club in Perth Amboy was transformed into a vibrant celebration of mindfulness, cultural heritage and friendship on the morning of Aug. 3, during the second annual Yoga in Saree event.
In honor of Friendship Day, the waterfront bustled with the rustling of sarees – garments made of cotton or silk draped around the body and traditionally worn by women from South Asia – the rhythm of deep breathing and the collective calm of a community coming together in unity and grace.
Organized by Embracing Imperfections, a women’s empowerment group co-founded by Robbinsville residents Pinki Majumdar and Nidhi Gupta, the event blended tradition and wellness. Women arrived draped in the colorful sarees, many for the first time in a yoga setting, to share a morning of movement and stillness.
For Sapana Raval, vice president of the Voorhees-Gibbsboro Lions Club and member of the Saree Speak group, the garment has a deep symbolic value.
“It’s not just a garment,” Raval maintained, “it’s a bridge. By wearing the saree while practicing yoga, we are weaving together mindfulness and heritage. This event celebrates our identity and encourages inclusivity through shared experience.”
“Yoga in Saree isn’t just about exercise, it’s about celebrating our roots, embracing who we are, and honoring the friendships we’ve formed through culture and community,” noted Majumdar, who is also president of the Delaware Valley Lions Club.
“We’ve built friendships around the saree, and this was our way of offering each other a moment of calm wrapped in something we love.”
The concept of practicing yoga while wearing sarees struck a chord with women from various areas and backgrounds. At first, some hesitated.
“There was concern about comfort and mobility,” Majumdar acknowledged. “But we wanted to show that the saree isn’t just traditional, it’s versatile, empowering and beautiful in motion.”
For yoga instructor Prabha Jha, founder of Sunskriti Yoga Studio in Metuchen, the yoga event was about more than the poses.
“Many of us are conditioned to think yoga only belongs in Spandex,” she observed. “But the saree was always part of our ancestral lives. Once the session began, the saree became part of the experience, our focus shifted inward, and the transformation happened.”
Jha helped attendees embrace the traditional attire by offering tips on how to adjust the drape for comfort and mobility.
“We reminded everyone that it’s not about perfection, it’s about presence,” she noted.
One of the morning’s most heartwarming moments came from 14-year-old Kavya Majumdar, who gracefully participated in the session representing the next generation.
“Watching her move with such pride and connection to our heritage brought tears to many eyes,” said one participant. “It’s a reminder that culture can be carried forward with both grace and pride.”
“Doing yoga together, especially on Friendship Day, allowed us to cultivate a sense of belonging,” Raval pointed out. “We created a space where people from different backgrounds could come together, be present, and leave more connected – to themselves and each other.”
This year’s Yoga in Saree gathering was the second of its kind, first launched on International Yoga Day. Organizers are already planning future expansions.
“It’s not just an event, it’s becoming a movement,” Gupta remarked. “We’re showing that wellness, tradition and empowerment can coexist. Our goal is to keep growing this initiative, reaching more women each year.”
As instructor Jha summed it up: “This event teaches us to stay in the present. That’s where the miracles live.”
