Latest news with #KusumSharma
Fashion Network
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fashion Network
Bindi 2025 Cultural Fashion Show brings desi fashion to Texas
A colourful tribute to Indian heritage took centre stage in Houston as the Bindi 2025 Cultural Fashion Show brought together Indian Americans in Texas for a runway event organised by World Bindi Day and held the ISKCON Temple in Texas. The fashion show featured traditional attire from all Indian states, modelled by members of the diaspora, the Press Trust of India reported. The evening combined fashion with classical and folk dance performances, storytelling, and regional cuisine, designed to offer attendees a multi-sensory experience of Indian culture. 'Our goal was to share the journey of the bindi- from sacred dot to cultural emblem- while honouring the legacy of Indian womanhood,' said Kusum Sharma, president of World Bindi Day, The Week reported. 'This event also supports causes close to our hearts- girls' education, youth leadership, and community empowerment.' World Bindi Day is a women-led nonprofit dedicated to promoting Indic traditions and community empowerment. Event coordinator Umang Mehta added, 'This was more than a fashion show- it was a heartfelt tribute to the India we carry within us.' Proceeds from the event will support World Bindi Day's educational and community upliftment programmes across the US.
Indian Express
08-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Operation Abhyaas: Gurgaon joins countrywide mock drill with voluntary blackout
As part of a mock drill aimed at testing civil preparedness in the wake of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following last month's terrorist attack in Pahalgam, residents in Gurgaon observed a voluntary blackout Tuesday evening. But the exercise, while broadly followed, appeared to leave many residents uncertain about its details. The blackout, held from 7:50 to 8:00 pm, saw non-essential lights turned off across much of the city. Photographs shared by the district administration showed commercial establishments complying, though streetlights remained on. Yet, members of resident welfare associations (RWAs) reported that they had received little official guidance about the drill. 'At present, the public is totally confused and expecting us to share official plans,' said Chaitali Mandhotra, a member of the Ardee City RWA. 'No one has approached us till now from the administration. I checked with the SHO — they have only information and no instructions,' added Kusum Sharma, an RWA member from Suncity. Vikas Hooda, president of the Ashok Vihar Phase 3 RWA, noted that while residents had voluntarily observed the blackout, there were no outward signs of an official drill. 'But there is no sign of the district administration or any drill at present. No sirens were heard all day,' he said. Officials had earlier announced a full-scale exercise, 'Operation Abhyas,' across 11 districts in Haryana, including Gurgaon. A control room was established at the city's Mini Secretariat, and students had been instructed in schools to observe the evening blackout. A staging area for relief and rescue teams was set up at Tau Devi Lal Stadium. Residential societies in Gurgaon switched off their lights to observe the blackout. (Express Photo) The sites selected for the drills in Gurgaon included Ambience Mall, Salwan Public School in Sector 15, a government school in Sector 4/7, Hero Honda Chowk, and Garhi Wazirpur village. At 4 pm, a loud siren was scheduled to sound across the district to alert the public, but according to residents, no such siren was heard. The administration deployed five rescue teams to the stadium staging area. Each was led by a task force manager and included ambulances, doctors, nurses, firefighters, police officers, Civil Defence volunteers, and members of the Red Cross, among other emergency responders. In advance of the drill, Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner Ajay Kumar had urged residents to participate, asking them to switch off their lights and stay indoors for the ten-minute blackout. 'There is no need to panic,' Kumar said, stressing that the exercise was intended to evaluate the rapid response capabilities of the city's emergency services and supporting departments.
