The sweet sunshine played hide and seek with the cool breeze. Melbourne was lovely, and in love with India! The stadium was pulsating with mega-watt energy and spectators were enthralled and mesmerised, and rightfully so! Picture this: 700 dancers holding meters and meters of red fabric depicting a rose, as a goddess in gold emerges like the Phoenix.
Dancing to a thunderous applause of 85,000 people, India’s true ambassadress and arguably the most accurate representation of beauty worldwide - Aishwarya Rai, created magic for a few minutes filling every Indian present with pride.
Her magic was followed by the effervescent and bubbling act by Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji creating dhamaal, Delhi ishtyle with a hot and happening bhangra number.
Accompanying the terrific two were hundreds of agile young movers and shakers from Shiamak Davar’s troupe. Wow!
Then you had singers Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghosal and Sunidhi Chauhan belting out a beautiful number on India, drawing symbolism to the Indian flag. The uber stylish and hot Lara Dutta came on next in red and gold, looking nothing short of a maharani! Can you have two much of a good thing?
Well those present did, as next up was Priyanka Chopra, who looked drop-dead sexy in mustard on a carriage accompanied by peacocks and elephants. Can we actually ignore or overlook how beautiful Indian women really are? No way!
My mind was in a whirl and was so busy soaking in the sights and sound that momentarily I actually forgot my designs, jewellery and the clothes... till I was reminded by my assistant that the foreigners were asking for Ash’s and Lara’s clothes. When the ceremony ended, each one of us was high on Indian pride!
The next day the euphoria continued. Whether we were shopping at Chanel or Jimmy Choo, there was a distinct buzz about Ash, her outfits, Lara and the others.
The affair to remember might be over. But I bring back with me the certainty that we sure are much, much more than turbans and elephants. We are many beautiful things and faces, cultures and moods. We are better than the best!
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}