Taking handlooms to the peak is what every political wannabe promises to hapless weavers. Now, a team of professional and amateur mountaineers, including two minors, have fulfilled that dream, literally!
Five mountaineers — three women and two kids — have scaled Mount Kosciuszko, the highest peak of Australia, wearing the handlooms of Telangana. What’s more, the three women dressed in what many working women do not choose as office wear, let alone as mountaineering gear — sari.
Two minors in team
The team led by Raji Venkat (35) included Lavanya M. (35), Srujana S. (23), Hasitha M. (13) and Samanyu M. (8). Of them, Ms. Lavanya is mother of Hasitha and Samanyu, and a mountaineering novice, who wished to accompany her children.
Starting from Hyderabad on December 8, the team successfully reached the top of the mountain on December 12.
While Raji Venkat, Lavanya and Srujana were draped in handloom saris from Narayanpet, Siddipet (Gollabhama), and Pochampally respectively, Hasitha wore a long gown made of Gadwal weave, and Samanyu donned a kurta of Pochampally make.
“We went to each of those villages before taking up the expedition, to record the weaves. Together with video clips of our expedition, we want to document it for posterity,” said Ms. Raji Venkat, who led the team on behalf of her adventure sports company ‘Boots and Crampons’. The idea behind the adventure was to promote handlooms.
10-hour expedition
The expedition lasted 10 hours. Scaling the summit in sari was not a cake walk, though. Moulali hillock was their practising terrain, before they went on to conquer the Australian peak.
“We wore leggings inside. Initially, it was uncomfortable, but we soon got over that. Enquiries by fellow mountaineers from European and other foreign countries about the handlooms bolstered our resolve. Jason, the person who helped us with the logistics in Australia, has promised to help us spread the message about Telangana handlooms,” shared Ms. Raji Venkat, who had earlier led six expeditions to Mount Kilimanjaro and summited it four times.
