Manali: Twenty six married women, including the 85 year old Mrs Bali Thakur, have stepped out to participate in the ‘Mrs Manali – Queen of Substance’ pageant that the Red Cross society here has announced to hold. Two more rounds of audition, on 18th and 19th September, are to be held.
Disclosing the fixture Mrs Jyoti Rana, magistrate of Manali who is a former beauty pageant winner, said that the Mrs Manali pageant was too be held for first time in the history of state.
“The concept behind this competition is bring forth hidden talent of Himachali women. Minimum age of a participant needs to be 18 years.
“Eighty-five year old Mrs Bali Thakur is also one of the participant in this event,” said Jyoti Rana.
The pageant, proposed to be held annually, would judge and identify married Indian women who exemplify beauty and talent or intelligence and compassion.
Mrs. Manali – Queen of Substance contestants are successful married women who strive to be self-confident, graceful, elegant, charismatic and honourable in the representation of India at home and around the world, say the organisers.
A Himachali woman in her lifetime plays many crucial roles that make her indispensable. A woman’s role as a mother goes beyond bearing and rearing children. She, being a wife is a husband’s confidante, a protector from the evil eye, someone who he could count on to share his trials and tribulations and help him get over the hurdles.
Himachali women in the line of entrepreneurship think of business enterprises and operate them. They undertake risks and handle economic uncertainties involved in running a business.
The ‘Mrs. Manali – Queen of Substance’ pageant is the most respectable title and award in Himachal Pradesh for married women, who would be recognised as successful women, state the organisers.
Sanjay Dutta, an engineer by qualification but is a journalist by choice.
He has worked for the premier new agency Press Trust of India and leading English daily Indian Express.
With more than a decade of experience, he has been highlighting issues related to environment, tourism and other aspects affecting mountain ecology.
Sanjay Dutta lives in a village close to Manali in Kullu valley of Himachal.
Wonderful initiative by the administration..congratulations
Age is no bar for beauty which is not just skin deep. My blessings to Jyoti Rana for keeping their (participants ) flame afire.
Congrats.