By Joe Andrade

Bahrain, Dec 13: 'Kudlotsava 2022' organised by dynamic leader and organiser par-excellence Anand Lobo attracted a capacity crowd at Delmon International Hotel, Manama recently.

As many as 9 contestants of Mangalurean origin competed to win the coveted title 'Miss Kudla 2022'.

Shivani Raj Bedra eventually won the title. Bedra also bagged the best hair dress, best smile, and best walk titles. The first runner-up spot was bagged by Akhila and second runner-up by Prajna Jagadeesha.

The event was stoically and vibrantly anchored by master of ceremonies Anand Lobo, for nearly 6 hours, who with his characteristic chatter, good humour and flamboyant style of delivery and Kudla attire, won the hearts of all those present at the event rolling every chapter of the event smoothly and quite vehemently from the start to finish in the right aura of Kudla spirit and fire it richly deserved.

The chief guest for the event was the renowned philanthropist and recent Guinness World Book of Records Award winner Dr Ronald Colaco based in the UAE and Bengaluru, India, who now appears to have extended to include Bahrain too as his home for his good works. Dr Colaco was accompanied by his guru, Prof Radhakrishna at the event.

The who-is-who of the Mangalurean Kudla hinterland fame, Nagaraj Shetty, accompanied by his wife, Mithun Rai, former Karnataka Cell chairperson Dr Aarthi Krishna, Madhav Kamath, Girish Alva, Javed Yenepoya, the famous Tiger Dancer 'Pili' Yadev Barke, and business pioneer Roy Castelino along with a few others, flew in from Mangaluru for the event as VIP guests to grace and be a part of the programme. All the VIP guests were felicitated by Lobo with bouquets being presented to them by local sponsors and a request to address the audience to keep the programme rolling and make everyone’s presence in the arena felt.

The pageant programme from 8.30 pm to 2 am the following day, displayed the beauty and beauty-related various physical stage talents of the 9 specially chosen contestants groomed for the finale, Miss Kudla 2022, capably choreographed and groomed for the event by Kamala.

Added attraction for this Miss Kudla contest day was the scintillating dance performances by three young talented belly-dancers, namely, Payal, Saakshi and Shreya, who added a touch of their own belly-dancing skills and talents on stage in three scintillating gyrating performances, firstly, at the beginning of the programme to welcome the audience of VIP guests and the rest seated beside the swimming pool to the tune of typical belly-dancing musical beats and rhythm emanating from DJ Francis Lobo spinning apt discs and reverberating the swimming pool’s sprawling arena and audience.

The first round for the contestants was with their draped colourful charmingly worn Indian sarees, the second round of the contest was with casualwear and the final third round with party wear.

The applause in appreciation from the packed audience that had gathered added more nostalgia to the eventful happenings and all that rocked the stage in the name of Miss Kudla 2022 event.

A delicious menu of snacks and the famous shawarma served were up for grabs for a reasonable price and the spirits available boosted further the Kudlotsava spirits for the Miss Kudla Contest by the poolside. The entrance to the programme was complimentary to all Kudla enthusiasts with special invites. Walking on the ramp practice sessions were held earlier in preparation for the day by the experienced choreographer Kamala.

The judges for the event were renowned personalities from the beauty pageant arena, and there were five. Dr Arathi Krishna, Tina Mathew, Ulhas Kharnavar, George Mathew and Ravi Karkera, did give their best in judging to select the best as winners and one could see that it was not easy at all in a contest that was all friendly and fair.

For the contestants, there were lovely cash prizes and choice gifts offered along with a lot of gift hampers, as also the love and applause of the Kudla audience and all the well-wishers who gathered. The first place winner was blessed with a necklace given away by Canara Jewellers, Mangaluru.

The winners were draped with sashes, given trophies, cash prizes and crowned by the VIPs who were in the grand finale conclusion of the event, lined-up and stood by on stage for the announcement by MC Anand Lobo and the crowning ceremony.