An event in Auckland for women and organised by women last week raised money for breast cancer awareness and also facilitated women achievers from different walks of life.
Naaree – Women’s Group, a Facebook collective established during the lockdown in 2020, organised the event on April 22, 2023, at Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall.
Led by the group's founders, Gargi Trivedi and Kashika Singh, the event attracted hundreds of women from diverse backgrounds under one roof.
The evening highlights included a fancy dress contest for children aged one to 12 years, Bindass Bolly Awards named after Bollywood celebrities, Naaree Choice Awards and Naaree in Saree parade, a fashion event that had more than 100 participants.
The organisers also awarded several women for contributing to the community, including founder of Sanskriti School of Passion Shweta Prabhakar for Best Entrepreneur and fitness expert Namrata Rai, who bagged Fitness Freak Award. The event also honoured a breast cancer survivor. The proceeds from the ticketed event would be donated to Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.
Fitness expert-entrepreneur Neelu Taore, who won Super Naree Award 2023, said, “The evening was a delightful and thrilling experience. I enjoyed attending a wonderfully organised event by the Naree team, led by the talented Kashika Singh and Gargi Trivedi. I admire these two powerhouses for bringing together many gifted women and creating an empowering and joyous atmosphere. They understand that women deserve recognition and love and executed it gracefully."
Another winner, mortgage advisor Rani Nalam, said, “Thank you, Naaree – Women’s Group, Kashika Singh and Gargi Trivedi for recognising my contribution to empowering women, community work, and managing work and home. I am truly humbled. It was a well-organised and awesome event.”
Businesswoman Tricia Shearer, another winner, said she was totally blown away by the recognition. She said, “It was an incredible event. Watching such incredible and inspiring women reach phenomenal heights in their personal development was an empowering experience to be part of. I was blown away by winning an award. I am truly honoured and feel very blessed to have received one. I'm very excited to have connected with so much fashion. The runway was an extraordinary experience of colours and love.”
Talking to The Indian Weekender about the response to the event, Gargi said, “It was overwhelming as Kashika and I kept getting calls on seeing us empower women. Such events are important as we try to bring all ethnicities and age groups under one umbrella and try promoting various causes.”
Co-organiser Kashika said, "The platform gives any common woman an opportunity to showcase herself and lift her confidence and feel motivated. This event would not have been possible without our amazing sponsors and volunteers. A big thanks to everyone for making this event a success.”
Attendees, too, shared their experience of the fun-filled gala. Ami Shukla said, “It was a great event. It was wonderful to see so many lovely ladies walking the ramp in beautiful sarees and full of smiles.”