Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, March 14:

Fair & Lovely in association with The Himalayan Times and Hyatt Regency organised a women’s carnival ‘Fair & Lovely Women Beyond Tomorrow’ today at Hyatt premises.

The carnival commemorated Women’s Day that is celebrated on March 8. The fiesta started early at 10:30 am and as the day passed, more visitors started coming in, though the crowd comprised mostly youngsters.

Prerana Shah, first runner-up Miss Nepal 2003 and Kohinoor Fair and Lovely new face, shared, “It is a good thing that the organisers are trying to promote women through this event. The stalls are so good. One gets to learn many things and the courses some stalls are offering are interesting. The carnival is educative and entertaining and should be organised regularly.”

Music, multi-cuisine, on-the-spot dating and games like bingo were other attractions of the event. Digital hairstyling, portfolio shot by professional photographers, shopping galore were just a few of the attractions. Handicrafts, jewellery, designer garments, pashmina among others added charm to the event that brought together 30 stalls under one roof.

The Close-up Sassy Zone stall offered the opportunity for free membership to their website www.closeupzone.com. IEC stall was also giving 20 per cent discount on their computer courses. Many other stalls had come up with attractive schemes too.

Hair expert Suman Shrestha, in-charge of Digital Hairstyle, said: “Many ladies came for the digital hair styling. This is the first of its kind of technique in Nepal and the women are so interested in looking good. I am enjoying the carnival. The best part is I am doing good business here!” The mehendi (henna) wallas were also flourishing, informed Pinky in between applying mehendi, “We have been putting mehendi since morning and it is still on.”

Every half an hour, Life Care Hospital was giving out gift hampers of a free full health check-up. Sushma Sthapit Kansakar, unit manager, American Life Insurance Company, who won the gift, opined, “The carnival is so interesting. This place has become a complete shopping mall for today. Thanks to the organising team for hosting such a wonderful event.”

On-the-spot contest like Miss Fair & Lovely Complexion, Miss Lux Beauty, Miss Close-Up Smile, Miss Sunsilk Beauty Hair and Miss Dove Soft Skin made the event more fun. Sudesha Devkota bagged the title of Miss Fair & Lovely Complexion.

Rakshya, a student of St Xavier’s said that carnivals like this should be organised every year to encourage women.

Singers Jems Pradhan, Kamal Man Singh, Deepesh Kishor Bhattarai, Sugam Pokharel, Saroj Dutta, and Deepak Maharjan with the live band RISA and DJ Little Star Shreshta entertained the audiences with their music.

The back-up band was Little Star. With Saroj Dutta’s hit track “Juni Junilai”, “Chiso Panima” the crowd were just getting in the mood to dance.

And as soon as Deepesh came on stage with his melodious “Nishal”, “Key Ma Timro”, and “Maya Malai” the audience started dancing and cheering. Sugam added more colour with his tracks “Mayako Bata”, “Mero Sansar” and “Pheri Tyo Din”. Jems and Kamal Man Singh worked their magic on the crowd too.

The singers agreed unanimously, “The event is well-organised. The best part of the whole carnival is that it is organised to celebrate Women’s Day in an entertaining manner, which is something different. No one so far had come up with this kind of celebration idea for Women’s Day. This carnival is the beginning.”

Sapana Pradhan Malla, women’s rights activist, released her book titled ‘Inheritance Rights of Nepali Women: Journey Towards Equality’. She also released books titled ‘Struggles to

Legalise Abortion in Nepal and Challenges Ahead’, and ‘Process and Significance of Shadow Report’.

“It feels good that an event like this is organised to commemorate Women’s Day. This is the first of its kind of event and proves that women’s day can be celebrated in this way too. It is a good beginning but next time I think it will be even better if this kind of carnival is organised in collaboration with women’s rights groups.”