Chatsworth TikToker blends faith, fasting and anime
From marathons to mantras
Wade Gounden
Image: Supplied
WADE “Bruce” Gounden, a 28-year-old Chatsworth marathon runner and TikTok influencer, shares how his unique blend of spirituality, disciplined fasting, and anime inspiration has transformed his life.
As the sacred month of Purtassi begins, his story offers timely wisdom for youth seeking balance in their lives. When Gounden crosses the finish line of a marathon or uploads a video to TikTok, he does so with more than training miles or camera angles behind him – he does it with faith, discipline, and an open heart.
Gounden, who recently completed the gruelling Comrades Marathon, has quietly become a local influencer whose message resonates far beyond social media trends. His TikTok clips- sometimes playful and sometimes prayerful – show a young man equally comfortable in running shoes or with folded hands reciting a mantra.
“I didn’t grow up religious or fasted much. But I always prayed and enjoyed being at the temple, especially during Kavady. Lord Krishna has become everything to me – my guide and trainer. His lessons always seem to find me when I need them,” he said.
For Gounden, spirituality and training intertwine. Yoga postures, meditation, and dry fasting forms part of his mental conditioning. His mornings begin at 5am with prayer, stretching, and reading. On special days such as Ekadasi or on Sundays at Chatsworth’s Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple, he fasts until midday, breaking it at the community’s love feast.
“Fasting is crucial, not just for the mind but for the body, too. It detoxes you and builds discipline,” he added.
Anime also plays a surprising role in his story.
“I have loved cartoons for as long as I can remember. Characters like Goku and Batman remind me that limits don’t exist. Shows like Dragon Ball Z and Black Clover taught me to keep pushing, even when life gets harder,” he added.
As the South Indian community begins the sacred month of Purtassi, Gounden’s routine of fasting, prayer, and running echoes the season’s spirit of discipline and devotion. In a world where many young people struggle to find balance, his example is refreshingly authentic.
His message to the youth is simple but profound: “We are all capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for. The only limits we have are the ones we place on ourselves. Get out of your comfort zone – life will give you experiences that are out of this world. Like Kung Fu Panda taught us, there is no secret ingredient. It’s all in your head,” he said.