Pune: The 36th edition of the Pune Festival saw the crowning of Suhani Nangude as the winner of the prestigious Miss Pune Festival 2024 competition.
The event, held at the Shri Ganesh Kala Krida Rangmanch, was a dazzling spectacle of talent, grace, and beauty, attended by several dignitaries, including special guest Amruta Fadnavis, a renowned singer and banker.
Fadnavis, while addressing the audience, highlighted the importance of such competitions in empowering young women.
"Competitions like Miss Pune Festival build confidence in young women, helping them enhance their thought processes and discover their true potential. It is not just about being a woman; the goal should be to achieve something bigger on the global stage. Your profession may be that of a doctor, engineer, astronaut, or model, but your innate qualities will define your real identity," Fadnavis said.
The evening saw Suhani Nangude being crowned Miss Pune Festival, with Urvi Padhye as the first runner-up and Pragnya Bhardwaj securing the second runner-up position.
Along with these top honors, Urvi Padhye won several other awards, including Best Smile and Miss Popular. Other special awards included Best Hair, which went to Sushrita Ghayatadke; Best Skin, awarded to Gauri Mohod; and Best Talent, won by Shreya Singh.
The competition, which is celebrating its 10th year, provides a platform for young women aspiring to careers in the film and fashion industries. Several past winners have gone on to achieve significant success, such as Pooja Birari, Saniya Chaudhary, and Namrata Jadhav, who are now popular in TV serials and films. Others like Varsha Rajkhova, Apurva Chavan, and Steffi Shaji have achieved recognition on national and international levels.
The event was creatively themed ‘Hoor-e-Jannat,’ inspired by the popular series "Hira Mandi." The final 16 contestants underwent extensive grooming and training in areas such as walking, speaking, and presenting themselves on stage, under the guidance of show director Juhi Suhas.
The 36th Pune Festival is supported by the Directorate of Tourism, Maharashtra, and sponsored by Kohinoor Group, with co-sponsors Panchsheel, Suma Shilp Ltd., Bharat Forge, and National Coordination Committee. Associate sponsors include Dr. D. Y. Patil University, Bhadekar Group, Ahura Builders, and Sinhagad Institute.