Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
Rajnandini Mangalsing Pawar, first runner-up at the 61st Femina Miss India pageant held in Bhubaneswar, received a warm welcome in the city on Friday during Maharashtra Day celebrations.
Citizens gathered at Kranti Chowk to welcome her in a traditional manner with drum beats, fireworks and ceremonial rituals. Pawar paid tributes to the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and later visited the statue of her grandfather, Balasaheb Pawar.
Speaking on the occasion, she said it was her first visit to the city after the competition and expressed gratitude for the overwhelming response. She credited the inspiration of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for her achievement.
Pawar had earlier won the Femina Miss India Maharashtra 2026 title in Mumbai. Her success has been seen as a moment of pride for the city and the region.