A Walk Through Our City, In Sarees: Why the Heritage Walk Became RURIethnic’s First Community Event

On Sunday, 11th May 2025, Mother’s Day, we hosted RURIethnic’s very first offline community event: a heritage walk through the old lanes of Pune. As I look back at that morning, it feels only natural that this was where our RURIsitara journey outside the store began walking through history, dressed in sarees, surrounded by women who love culture, craft, and stories as much as I do.

When we started thinking about RURIethnic’s offline events, I knew I didn’t want them to be predictable. Sarees, to me, have always stood for more than occasions or celebrations. They represent heritage, continuity, and memory. And I realised that much like sarees today, we are also slowly losing touch with the places that shape us, like our own cities.

We often travel far to explore new destinations, new cultures, new stories. But how often do we pause and truly understand the city we live in? Where we work, build our lives, raise families, and create memories? Pune has played such an important role in the history of our nation, yet so much of it remains unexplored, even by those born here.

That thought stayed with me. And that is why a heritage walk in Old Pune felt like the perfect way to begin RURIethnic’s community-led events.

Walking Through Old Pune

We started our walk at Mandai, the iconic vegetable market built in 1882 during British rule, which even today remains the heartbeat of the city. From there, we walked through historic landmarks such as Kasba Ganpati, Bhau Saheb Rangari Bhavan, and the old lanes that quietly carry centuries of stories, finally ending our walk at Shaniwar Wada — a place that needs no introduction.

Ten beautiful women, draped in sarees, walked together through these lanes. Some were long-time RURIsitaras, some were meeting RURIethnic for the first time. A few enthusiastic husbands joined us too, adding warmth and curiosity to the group. The age group ranged from mid-20s to mid-50s, a reminder that the love for sarees and heritage cuts across generations.

I chose to wear a soft cotton handloom saree from our Hawa Ke Saath Saath collection that day. The walk was long, and I wanted to feel light, comfortable, and myself. That saree moved with me, easy, breathable and effortless! Exactly how I believe sarees should feel in real life.

Moments That Stayed With Me

What stayed with me most were the reactions. The awe. The quiet disbelief.

As we walked, I watched these women pause, listen, look up at old buildings, and exchange glances that said, “Why didn’t I know this?” Many of them spoke about how they had lived in Pune all their lives, yet had never really seen it this way. There was pride, surprise, curiosity — and a renewed sense of connection to the city they call home.

At the end of the walk, several RURIsitaras came up to me and said, “Thank you for doing this.” They called it thoughtful. Off-beat. Meaningful. That gratitude for an experience rather than a product, stayed with me long after the day ended.

It reaffirmed something I deeply believe in.

Why RURIethnic Does What It Does

At RURIethnic, we are not just about handloom sarees. We are about reviving connections — with craft, with culture, with ourselves, and with the spaces we inhabit. Just as sarees deserve to be lived in and not forgotten in cupboards, our heritage deserves to be experienced, not taken for granted.

This heritage walk was our way of gently reminding ourselves that tradition does not belong only to the past. It walks beside us, if we choose to notice.

As we build the RURIethnic community, we want to continue creating such cultural, off-beat experiences, moments that bring women together through shared values, curiosity, and a love for the saree. Events that feel thoughtful, rooted, and real.

That Sunday morning in Old Pune was not just a walk.
It was a beginning for RURIethnic and for a community that believes in wearing its heritage with pride.