Showtime in Surat

In the last week of February the Zoroastrian Women’s Assembly of Surat (ZWAS) organized a beauty contest, a bonny baby competition and a cooking competition for Zoroastrians of that city, writes Maharukh Chichgar, trustee of the community service organization. The two-day program, conducted by Chichgar, past president Kainaz Variava, Dilnaz Besania and Pearl Daboo, in an effort to keep the community together through entertainment activities, was a runaway success.

Above: beauty contest winners with judges and members; healthy baby contest winners (far left); free eye check-up camp organized by Zoroastrian Women’s Assembly of Surat

Thirty-five to forty persons strutted their stuff in the beauty contest held on February 24, 2007, with Farzan Karanjia being crowned Mr ZWAS, Farzana Kharadi, Mrs ZWAS and Dilshad Palia, Miss ZWAS. Among the other categories were Perfect Smile, Beautiful Hair, Perfect Skin, Mr 10 and most Photogenic. The Best Personality title was bestowed on Kharadi. ZWAS president Binaifer Engineer welcomed the gathering and Darayas Master, president of the Surat Parsi Panchayat graced the occasion.

The following day it was time for the tiny tots to vie for titles in the Healthy Baby Competition with Aanoash Chichgar (under one year), Freyan Elavia (one to two years) and Rushad Daruwala (two to three years) emerging winners. Free eye and dental check-up camps followed, where nearly 60 children availed of the services of qualified doctors.

The cooking competition was judged by Cyrus J. Dotivala of Dotivala Bakery, his wife Zenobia and Maharukh B. Davierwala of Tex Palazzo hotel. Prize winners Sanober Pajnigara made the best salad dressing and tied with Pashin Engineer for the most mouth-watering desserts, while Burjis Pajnigara, Gulshan Chiniwala and Nilufer Patel produced the most interesting main courses.

The write-up reveals that ZWAS has entered the literary field with a quarterly booklet, Chhaiye Ame Jarthosti, priced at Rs 40 per annum for Surat residents and Rs 60 to cover outstation postage. It can be obtained from Zoroastrian Women’s Assembly of Surat, 12/723, Rati Villa, Bhavnagri Street, Surat 395003.