Amidst a cheering crowd in the hall, Subita Pradhan, 19, of Jyabahal area of Kathmandu was crowned Miss Newa 2006 in a beauty contest among the girls representing Newar community of Nepal on Saturday evening.

Expressing both happiness and sorrow at the same time, the first runner up Sabita Shrestha was in tearful eyes while her face was brightening with a smile.

The spectators were hooting in favor of contestants winning the various tittles including Miss Newa, runner-ups, and miss best hair to miss talent.

All contestants were in traditional Newar attires including Lun Swang (golden flower of metal), makuli (a type of ear ring), Jangwall Salwar (a type of women's pant) and Kalli (a type of ring being used in legs), among others. There was no vulgarity in their dress up.

Newar dances and songs were additional components for creating excitement in the crowd. The Newar community is the main dwellers of Kathmandu valley for generations.

When the winners were announced from among the 33 contestants, they were of all smiles and exchanging congratulations with the cheering supporters.

Miss Newa title winner Subita said that she was very much happy for winning the title.

She also vowed to work for promoting Newar mother tongue in the future given that people of new generation in Newar community are forgetting to speak in their mother tongue while communicating.

A surprising thing in the contest is that even the sister organizations of the Communist Party of Nepal (formerly known as guerrillas) including Newa National Liberation Front and All Nepal Women's Union also supported the event, according to the organizers.

They used to protest against beauty contests in the past, the organizers said.

Source: Xinhua