Kullu girl Yukti is Winter Queen
MC Thakur
Manali, January 7
Yukti Pande from Kullu was crowned Winter Queen at the Winter Carnival-2018, which concluded here last evening. Elix Chaudhary from Mandi and Shivani Rathor from Shimla were the first and second runner-up, respectively.
As many as 30 girls from various parts of the state participated in the event. However, only 10 could make it to the final round.
Yukti said, “My hard work has paid off. I could not make it last time. My father is happy at my achievement. I owe my success to him.”
Agriculture, Tribal Development and Information Technology Minister Ram Lal Markanda was the chief guest on the last day of the carnival. He gave away the prizes to the winners and contestants.
Markanda said IT parks would be set up across the state. The first such park would come up in Shimla soon. He said telecommunication and internet services, especially in the tribal areas, would be strengthened.
The minister said the government would chalk out a strategy for tourism development in Lahaul-Spiti district, which was expected to get a boost after the opening of the Rohtang tunnel.
Results of other events
Jhanki: (Mahila Mandal): First: Raghunath Mahila Mandas, Gojra; second: Lakshmi Mahila Mandal, Kanyal; third: Neel Kanth Mahila Mandal, Rampur
Jhanki (team): First: Jagriti Kala Manch, Manali; second: Saraswati Kala Manch, Manali; third: MDR, Manali
Jhanki department and NGOs: First: Gau Seva Sadan, Manali; second: HPSEBL, Manali
Nati (Mahila Mandals): First: Left Bank; second: Right Bank
Horn Dance: First: Hidimba Mahila Mandal, Dhungri; second: Mahaveer Mahila Mandal, Chichoga
Food stall: First: Laxmi Self-Help Group, Gadherni; second: Sarv Shakti Self-Help Group, Haripur
Tug of war (Mahila Mandal): First: Maa Durga Mahila Mandal, Manali Gaun; second: Shakti Mahila Mandal, Bhanara
Street dance: First: Sahitya Kala Avam Sanskriti Manch, Naggar; second: Shangar Group Gohar, Mandi; third: Surya Sanskriti Dal, Banogi
Street play: First: Satya Group Theatre, Ludhiana; second: Sarhande, Punjab; third: Volcano Group, Gujarat
Classical dance: First: Surya Sanskriti Dal, Banogi; second: Fusion Dance, Ner-Chowk; third: Shiv Sanskriti, Bhumteer
Fashion show: First: Saraswat, Manali; second: Imanimal, Kullu; third: Star Dancing, Bilaspur
Folk dance: First: Sahitya Avav Sanskriti, Santha, Naggar; second: Surya Sanskriti Dal Banogi; third: Sar-e-hade, Punjab
Fashion show (Mahila Mandals): First: Mahila Mandal, Mathiyana Koshla; second: Manu Mahila Mandal, Manali Gaun; third: Maa Durga Mahila Mandal, Manali Gaun
Voice of Carnival: First: Rishabh Bhardwaj; second: Anand Kumar; third: Shweta and Deepak Chauhan
Results pre-decided, allege contestants
- The Winter Queen contest has courted controversy as some contestants have alleged that the results were pre-decided.
- The contestants who were not selected for the final round alleged that judges remained in the grooming room all the time. They were not supposed to interact with the contestants, they added.
- Girisha, Manisha Bhandari, Ravina and Avantika Bekta alleged that, “It is due to mismanagement by the organisers that they lost the contest.”
- The contestants alleged that they had spent a lot of money on their dresses for the final round and suddenly they were told that they had not been selected.
- Another contestant alleged that during the question and answer round, the tag number of the contestants were mentioned on the question sheet. “There is a possibility that the winners already knew the answers,” she added.
- She said of the 30 girls, only one was from Chandigarh, while all others were from Himachal.
- However, HR Bairwa, vice-chairman of the Winter Carnival Committee, said the contestants were selected on merit.
