Lokmat Sakhis light up Sankranti fair; Haldi–Kumkum celebration steals the show !

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The sweetness of Sankranti, the traditional charm of the haldi–kumkum ritual and the flair of modern fashion came together in a vibrant celebration as Sakhis brimmed with enthusiasm. The occasion was the Sankranti fair organised by Lokmat Sakhi, presented by Indriya Jewels by the Aditya Birla Group. Witty Ukhane such as “ Pudhchya janmi, Ambanich hava, ” sparked peals of laughter, while confident Sakhis lit up the Lokmat Bhavan premises with ramp walks in black sarees adorned with halwa jewellery. Organised in association with Dr A. A. Qadri’s Mental Health Centre, the event showcased a unique blend of tradition and women’s creative talent.

Held on February 6 and 7 at Lokmat Bhavan, the two-day festival featured a range of competitions. In the Haldi–Kumkum Queen contest, Sakhis dazzled the ramp in red and yellow sarees, while the Sankranti Queen contest highlighted the elegance of black sarees. Beyond beauty, women also displayed their talent in solo dance and traditional Ukhane competitions. Gift partner Prem Dulhan’s manager Pankaj Yewale and Maple Leaf director Khushi Sharma were present.

Sankranti Queen

First: Rinku Kolhe, Deepali Udavant

Second: Tanuja Chauthe, Bageshree Rahatkar

Third: Diya Sharma, Rajshree Gudekar

Consolation: Bhavana Soni, Pallavi Shete, Swati Ghodke, Jyoti Yadav

Judges: Manjusha Kachkure, Shivani Khedkar

Haldi–Kumkum Queen

First: Poonam / Pooja, Prajakta / Sarika

Second: Ashwini / Bharti, Rajlakshmi / Deepali

Third: Jyoti / Triveni, Shobha Sarika

Consolation: Neeta / Geeta, Aarti Jayashree, Sulochana / Kamal, Rashmi / Pooja

Solo Dance

First: Jyotsna Jadhav, Asavari Waghmare

Second: Manmeet Dhage, Manisha Rathod

Third: Sunanda Sonawane, Archana Jadhav

Consolation: Shraddha Panbude, Jayashree Mithawala, Nirmala Mehendarge, Renuka Jadhav

Judges: Priyanka Saoji, Shubhangi Kulkarni, Neelambari Vanagujar

Ukhana competition winners

First: Kalpana Parikh, Prajakta Patil

Second: Smita Devale, Tara Kunte

Third: Smita Jivankar, Shobha Ingale

Consolation: Mangala Sawant, Anita Bange, Jyoti Avcharmal, Ashumati Gite

Judges: Meena Popalghat, Monali Bhoyar, Archana Pandit, Asha Jadhav

Prize distribution by Indriya Jewels

Prizes for first-place winners of the Ukhana, Sankranti Queen and dance competitions were presented on February 7 by Indriya Jewels store manager Bhagyashree Dahiwal.

Caption:

1. Contestants in the Sankranti Queen competition.

2. Dance winners receiving prizes from Indriya Jewels store manager Bhagyashree Dahival.

3. Strong response from Sakhis at the Sankranti fair