Synonymous with celebrations of the Indian Heritage Month, Diwali will kick off with a stylish start on Saturday, 30 October, when 20 of Chatsworth’s most glamorous residents will be crowned in the first-of-its-kind sari queen contest in almost 20 years.
The pageant is part of the weekend’s ‘Diwali Experience’ cultural programme hosted by Pick n Pay Chatsworth and local partner organisations. The sari is the oldest continuously worn fashion garment in history, say the organisers.
Celebrities have worn it at glamorous events and fashion catwalks. Ordinary folk from diverse cultures choose the sari as an expression of timeless elegance. Local historian and founder of the Made in Chatsworth concept, Kiru Naidoo, said they were excited that the retailer has revived the contest that was popular in the sixties and seventies. “Covid protocols insist that this a small event so the entrants will be kept to just 20,” added Naidoo. An excited Lerina Coles, an executive at the supermarket chain, said: “The idea of a Sari Queen Contest came up as we looked for an iconic symbol of the Diwali celebration.” The Hindu festival of lights will be celebrated on 4 November but its global appeal captures the imagination across faith communities; 16 November is also the 161st anniversary of the arrival of the first Indian indentured workers in colonial Natal.
Coles added that the retailer always looked to partner locally with their events and invited the Made in Chatsworth Market and Durban Book Fair organisers to bring their expertise.
The three-day Diwali Experience, starting Friday, combines entertainment and stalls by local vendors with the sari queen contest being the highlight on Saturday at 12pm on the concourse of the flagship Chatsworth store. A judging panel headed by author, radio personality and local educator, Mala Lutchmanan, will score entrants who wear the sari with the most stunning effect to take home the R6 000 worth of prizes on offer.
The competition is open to all, irrespective of culture, gender or age. Prospective entrants need to send a WhatsApp text of no more than 50 words to 082-940-8163 explaining why they love the sari.
The organisers will make a selection of the 20 entrants to invite to the weekend pageant. The Diwali Experience programme ends on Sunday at 3pm.
