Fashion, Talent Rock Namaste Kampala as Female Indians Showcase Traditional Dances, Outfit

It was a glamorous and merrymaking Saturday evening as hundreds of female Indians gathered at the Namaste Restaurant & Bar Kampala to participate in the Traditional Females & Kids Fashion show as part of the Diwali Celebrations.

Sponsored by Kansai Plascon Uganda Limited, Ladies Salon, Namaste Restaurant & Bar Kampala, Iqbal Habib and key Ugandan Media Organizations, the event attracted both adult and children sparkling divas, who showcased exuberant and delightful dances which was categorically the flashiest of the women’s dancing styles. The dresses and decorative beaded accessories were vividly colorful and matched the most outstanding feature of these dancers’ outfits.

According to Preeti Singh, one of the organizers, the Traditional Females & Kids Fashion show in Uganda is a platform of the fashion event which also allows children to showcase the art and culture of various , but also bring women together to share learning experiences that are supportive to their families.

‘’ It was nice to be here with the children and women sharing and learning a lot on how to promote and preserve our culture. I was pleased to see the demonstration of culture and heritage at the event. We enjoyed the show and the cultural performances were also very good’’, said Preeti.

Sheema Bansala, another member of the organizing committee, said the musical performances filled the venue with melodious tunes, creating a lively atmosphere. She noted that the fashion show showcased the diversity of Indian attire, giving everyone a visual treat of the rich cultural heritage adding that going forward, Ugandan females should attend to promote the Ugandan and Indian culture as a joint program.

Soni Rai, also a member of the organizing committee said this event brings together women and the girls to share knowledge and happiness off their duties from home, but with the main aim of upholding culture.

In addition to the captivating performances, the event featured a delicious spread of traditional Indian cuisine. Local artisans will also have the opportunity to showcase their talents and culture in the subsequent events to provide a platform for the Ugandan community to appreciate and support local talent.

The Traditional Females & Kids Fashion show wasn’t just a showcase of culture; it was a unifying experience, bringing the Indian female community together to celebrate traditions and share the joy of the festival.

The performances were classified into groups of Ladies, Children (2-8years) and Children (8- 16 years) who presented in traditional Indian wear.The Winner in ladies category was awarded a TV along with trophy, also children in both categories were awarded separately.

Traditional fashion show 1^st winner was Sheetal Sharma, 2nd winner was Neha Bajaje and the winner Nupur Sharma.Other winners among children included; Falak Vasundeva 12 years and Varushka Punjabi 4 years.

Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights with its variations also celebrated in other Indian religions. It symbolizes the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

Indians generally place a high value on harmony and unity with others, keeping a strong nexus with their community and relatives.

India and Uganda share historical relations spanning over a century. Indians first came to Uganda in the beginning of 20th century. India’s freedom struggle inspired the early Ugandan activists to fight colonization and eventually Uganda achieved freedom in 1962. India established its diplomatic presence in Uganda in 1965.

The Indian community presents the strongest and most durable economic and cultural links with Uganda. Indians play a leading role in the Ugandan economy, especially in manufacturing, trade, agro-processing, banking, sugar, real estate, hotels, tourism and information technology. They employ thousands of Ugandans, and are amongst the biggest taxpayers in the country.