It was an unusually chilly early November evening. A heavy dose of shower had washed the city as if to usher in the chill. The approach road to Shilpgram, Panjabari, Guwahati had not witnessed that kind of a traffic in recent times. Everyone seems to be in a hurry. But the chaos that you saw outside was conspicuous by its absence within the Shilpgram premises where the stage was set for the 4th Darpan Mrs India Northeast 2009 challenge.

As you enter the premises you get impressed by the stage, light, sound and decoration and sitting arrangement made by the organizers. And now the show begins with the RJs of Red FM taking to the centre-stage. As they began announcing the programme for the evening you are catapulted to a world that you seldom come across in your busy life.

The event managed by the Epitome Communication had some of the renowned personalities from the world of culture, fashion and films etc as judges. They included Indira PP Bora, eminent classical and Satriya exponent, Lina Paramvir Singh, designer empanelled with the Union Ministry of Textiles, Meghna Rai Medhi, fashion designer, Rakhee Chakraborty of AIDS Control Society, Prashantt Ghosh, fashion designer and choreographer, PK Sharma, president, AREIDA and Munna Ahmed, film director.

While Anubha Rathore won the contest, Tripti P Singh was the first runner-up and Chandasmita Basumatary was the second runner-up. Other winners included Namrata Hazarika — Mrs Beautiful Hair; Chandasmita Basumatary — Mrs Beautiful skin; Dipali Sharma — Mrs Beautiful Smile; Anamika Barman — Mrs Beautiful Eyes; Sangita D Monte — Mrs Congeniality; Pubali Saikia Barua — Mrs Perfect 10; Shilpi Shikha Sarma — Mrs Talented; Tripti P Singh — Mrs Discipline; Rubina Rahman — Gallery 2000 Mrs Catwalk; Anubha Rathore — Gallery 2000 Mrs Personality; Licha Nadi — Gallery 2000 Mrs Stylish; Parijat Barua — Nippo Mrs Electrifying; and Momita Borah — Mrs Confident.

The sponsors of the show included Nippo Batteries & Torches (co-sponsor); Red FM – radio partner; DY365 – television partner; REFLEXON – magazine partner; UPS – UR personal style, Garimas Hues, Sanzz mobile, Videocon, Gallery 2000 and Madhu Chand, a gold director of Oriflame.

It is indeed good to see that contests such as these encourage housewives and other professional ladies to come and participate in an event where they get a chance to show their hidden talents. We wish Darpan keeps on holding such events in the future.

Deepika Bhuyan