It was the last day of Durga puja but 53 residents of GD Block had saved the finest in their festival collection for Bijoya Dashami. Aged between three and 60 years, they had come prepared to walk on the ramp in front of their neighbours in a mood of friendly participation. The GD Block Residents Association was hosting a fashion show.
But with barely five minutes to go for the start, it was announced that it would be a contest, not just a fashion parade. Instantly the ambience transformed, heightening the energy and enthusiasm level of the contestants, visible in the rush to collect participation serial numbers.
The show started with the youngest models, who were brimming with excitement. Next came teenage girls, showcasing their poise, followed by women and men wearing Western and fusion outfits. Some of them walked alone, some in pairs and some with family, displaying flair and bonding. As the models proceeded towards the stage, the spectators cheered and waved at them.
The anticipation peaked as the judges — John Sengupta, head of the department, and Sharanya Sengupta, senior faculty of INIFD, Salt Lake — got ready to announce the results.
Shreyanvi Lahiri, aged all of three years, received thunderous applause for throwing a flying kiss at the audience and was declared the joint winner in the children’s category with Arpan Baran Aich, a Class IV student at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. In the adults category for men, the joint winners were Samir Kumar Das and Arpan’s father Parthasarathi Aich. In the women’s category, Upasana Mukherjee emerged the sole winner.
“Once I heard it would be a competition, I was determined to give my best. It was really an overwhelming and exciting experience to get the prize in front of the crowd that included my cheering family members. When my serial numberwas announced I checked it twice over to confirm whether it was really me,” gushed Upasana¸who had done her Masters in fashion management. She had created an Indo-Western look by pairing a red ethnic skirt with a semi-formal black shirt with matching accessories.
Das, her counterpart in the men’s category, said he was a player and a businessman. “This is my third time on the ramp. I wanted to experiment with my skill in fashion. My victory was unexpected as the age group was a wide one.” Joint winner Aich, an architect, said his wife boosted his confidence by walking with him. Arpan, his nine-year-son, was delighted to debut on the ramp in the company of his parents.
John Sengupta, the judge, said: “The total show was very compact. The contestants presented themselves so professionally! The children showcased so much of oomph that the decision was really tough. Every kid’s pose, posture, expression, entry and exit were amazing. The gesture and coordination skills of Arpan reflected great family bonding, walking as he did with his parents. Even Shreyanvi was so confident, given her tender age. If we don’t encourage them we will be deprived of our rising superstars. Even the adults, both men and women, carried their dress no less perfectly than professional models.”
Another judge Sharanya Sengupta added: “We didn’t have a tenth of the confidence and courage of these children at ther age. It was most impressive how a three-year-old kid retained all the instructions and implemented them on stage. Even when she received the prize it seemed she was totally used to getting prizes.”
She however stressed on the need for more male participation the next time. “Fashion is for both genders, isn’t it?” she asked, throwing a challenge to the men of the block.
Danseuse Sanchari Samaddar, who directed and choreographed the show, shared how much she enjoyed mentoring the participants. “The level of enthusiasm was so high! The event became a memorable celebration, blending fashion, community spirit and fun. Though our theme was Western Bollywood, I blended Indian mythological influences in the background music, punching Eastern strains with Western,” said Samaddar.
Secretary of the GD Block Residents’ Association Kamal Bhattacharya said each winner was awarded with a cash prize of Rs 2,500, with block resident Shibshankar Ghosh donating half of the booty. The committee decided to give prizes to all 22 children participants to boost their morale. “The event was aimed to foster bonding among residents of all age groups and encourage participation in such community events,” Bhattacharya said.
Write to saltlake@abp.in
