Indian designer Anita Dongre for Kenya fashion festival
She has been in fashion probably all her life but in the last 20 years she has established a brand to reckon with. This is Anita Dongre from Mumbai, India, and she is coming to Nairobi as one of the major fashion designers for the third edition of Trendz Kenya Fashion Festival from Just Like That. This festival has been a trendsetter and captured a new style which aims to make Nairobi a fashion capital of the world. Anita has dressed the Indian cinema superstars such as Rani Mukherjee, Sonakshi Sinha and Deepika Padukone.
Designers apply online and are selected depending on their abilities, work and keen focus is given on whether they are an established designer, an emerging designer or one that is for generation next. A mix of international fashion designers including from Kenya will come together on Saturday at the Tribe Hotel to showcase their work. This extravaganza includes Tanzania’s Ally Rehmtullah, Paledi Segapo from South Africa, Blackbird from USA and a wonderful ensemble from Kenya including Sonu Sharma, John Kaveke, Jamil Walji and Galina who adds a French touch to Jamil’s designs.
Shree Lohana Mahajan Mandal marks 90 years in Nairobi
The Shree Lohana Mahajan Mandal is celebrating 90 years in Nairobi. To mark the milestone, they are having several religious and cultural programmes. On the weekend of June 30 to July 1, they organised a religious tour which took them across Naivasha and Sarova Lion Hill Lodge in Nakuru. This safari began at the Jalaram Temple in Nairobi on Saturday and the next stop was the Hanumanji Temple which hosts the Hindu Council of Naivasha.Coincidentally it is here that they have a native as the priest Shri Mohan Bhagat who can also speak Gujarati fluently. He has been a devotee of Hanuman for several years and given his life to serving the temple. After lunch at the Nakuru Jalaram Temple it was check in time at the Sarova Lion Hill Lodge and then a game drive and visit to the Lake Nakuru National Park. The team is now looking forward to the next festival scheduled for December 2012 in Dar es Salaam.
United Communities Debate in Mombasa
For Mombasa residents, the month of June ended on a high note with debates at the Aga Khan Sports Club. It was during the third United Communities Debate in Gujarati. It was organised by the Joint Committee of the Aga Khan Council Members and the communities that participated were Aga Khan, Hindu Council, Memon and Bohra. According to the convener Noorudin Tejpar, this was held to bring together the various communities.
iSikh to host Surjit Patar
It is not often that Kenya hosts a literary award winner. It is the honour of the young Sikhs organisation known as iSikh to host Surjit Patar on July 15 at the Oshwal Centre Auditorium in Nairobi. Dr Patar is the recipient of the Padma Shri Award in the field of Literature and Education, which is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India. He was also awarded the Saraswati Samman (India’s highest literary award) by K.K. Birla foundation for his work 'Lafzon Di Dargah'. He is also home in Kenya because his brother Upkar Singh is known for his contribution to the Sikh community through his singing and music talent and as a former presenter of East FM. Upkar has been singing hymns and also ventured into Ghazal music, while retaining his humble touch to poetry influenced by his brother. You can call it a reunion of brothers somewhat but they will be accompanied by the famous flute player Kirit Pattni and the excellent percussionist Pritam Singh playing the tabla.