Once upon a time, in a place called rural Maharashtra, there were women who wanted to do something very special and interesting – they wanted to play kabaddi! But you know what? In their village, it was not something girls usually did. It was like a big secret, a taboo!

One woman named Mahananda Vishal Patil had never played a game after becoming a grown-up. But one day, a kabaddi tournament came to her village, and she couldn’t resist watching.

When one player didn’t show up, she saw her chance to relive her childhood memories. She bravely hitched up her sari and joined the game, and guess what? Her team came second!

Breaking Barriers: Sari Kabaddi

• Now, women in saris playing kabaddi was a rare sight, especially in rural areas. But things started changing, thanks to a group called Committee of Resource Organisation (CORO) India’s Ekal Mahila Sangathan, which helps women in Maharashtra. They organized eleven tournaments where 854 women, aged 18 to 70, played kabaddi, and 2,000 women cheered for them!
• You see, in this part of the country, some traditions and rules said that widows, single women, and women who were divorced or abandoned by their families should stay at home and not do sports. But these brave women wanted to change that! They started talking to each other and playing games, breaking the ice. They shared stories of their childhood when they played hopscotch, kho kho, and kabaddi.
• The organizers faced some funny situations too. When they asked for support, some people were surprised and didn’t understand why women should play instead of taking care of their homes. But others loved the idea and contributed money and resources. They even faced some people who were not happy and threw stones at their posters!
• These women were so determined to play that they had to come up with sneaky plans to practice. Some said they were going to buy groceries or visit hospitals, but instead, they went to play kabaddi! Most of them wore saris because they couldn’t convince their families to wear something more comfortable.
• But all their hard work and bravery paid off! They won prizes, and people started changing their minds about women playing sports. One young woman named Puja and her mother-in-law, Sharada, played together on the same team. They won prizes and had the support of their family!
• Now, these amazing women want the tournament to happen every year. Kabaddi has become like magic for them, giving them more confidence in themselves. They showed everyone that women can do anything they want, even if it’s something new and different!
• So, the moral of the story is: Don’t be afraid to break the rules and challenge traditions, especially if it makes you happy and strong like these women playing kabaddi in their saris. And remember, it’s never too late to relive your childhood memories and have fun! The end!

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