13.10.15

Wet Silence by Sweta Srivastava Vikram

Wet Silence - poems about hindu widows by Sweta Srivastava Vikram is the latest addition to her ever increasing collection.

Yet again Sweta has surpassed herself. This collection of poems is disturbing yet alluring, passionate yet tragic.

Sweta has depicted the colourless life of a widow perfectly in her poems and each of them are like a powerful weapon hurled on the face of this patriarchal society.

Readers will be taken on a roller coster ride of emotions, visiting "the rooms we built where sorrow would never find us" yet paradoxically where "the silence became my lover."

A widow's inner sufferings are chaotic, full of desire, passion, memories, self loathing and yearning. But on the outside they are forced to hide their feelings and lead a barren life. They are forced to sacrifice their life in the name of honour.

The book also reveals the hypocrisy of the society that claims to look after its members but has in fact failed to address the plight of a widow.

All in all, a fantastic and thought-provoking read which is hard to put down.

A review by Smita Singh
VAANI

1.9.15

A profile on Anjali Sinha - Winner of Teen Miss Earth 2015

Anjali Sinha, 16 from Stanmore, Harrow has won the Teen Miss Earth 2015 title at a glittering event held at the McDonald Burlington Hotel, Birmingham on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th August 2015. She also won the Best Hair Award as part of the Teen Face of the World Contest. Anjali was representing the contest as Teen Miss Earth Greater London. This was her debut appearance at a beauty pageant, hence her victory has had a hugely positive impact on her life. 

Anjali was born and brought up in Mumbai, India, before moving to London in 2003 with her family. She has just passed her GCSEs with flying colours and is now pursuing further studies in order to achieve her dream of specialising in bio-medical research. She has always been very academic, and has contributed to her school community immensely with her leading roles as a school councillor and a prefect. However Anjali has not limited herself to her studies, and shows great interest in music, dance and drama, and has been involved in many dance performances through the Shiamak Davar Dance Academy in London.


Anjali worked with the Angel Xpress Foundation earlier this year. The Angel Xpress Foundation is a charity that believes that an involved, educated adult can lead a child to discovering his or her own true potential. Children from financially challenged backgrounds often lack this kind of attention and care, and the Angel Xpress Foundation aims to provide this missing link to each child they come across. Anjali hopes to continue her support to Angel Xpress Foundation and work with and raise funds for many more such charities in India and UK.

Anjali accredits her success to the massive support from her parents, who have stood by her and encouraged her throughout her whole journey.  She also thanks all other family members and friends for their best wishes and support. The team behind Anjali’s triumph at this pageant were Shivalika Sharma and Samir Purohit - her mentor and fitness trainer from Mumbai, and Nivedita Saboo and Melvyn Noronha who designed her stunning pageant dresses.
Anjali has thanked Louise Brown, Director of Miss Earth UK and Ireland and owner of the Face of The World, for her support and encouragement during the entire event. 



















Anjali will continue to participate in many more pageants over the next few years as she strongly believes that pageants such as Teen Miss Earth empower women who can make a difference to the world.

The annual Miss Earth United Kingdom Of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Grand Final Crowning & Award Ceremony is one of the top beauty pageants in the UK and the only green carpet event in the world. It is an event of style and glamour where the Green, Glam and Gorgeous England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland girls are selected winning a trip to represent the United Kingdom at one of the top 3 most prestigious beauty pageants with nearly 100 countries participating.

Miss Earth® is an Ambassador to environmental protection campaigns worldwide and empowers contestants to focus on and promote environmental awareness for a clean, natural and healthy environment. During participation, contestants plant trees, raise funds for their charity projects through the Girls4Trees Beauties For A Cause UK Community Fund Project giving funds to UK projects in the hometowns of each of our grand finalists, attend various environmental activities, promote a healthy environment in their hometown and educate people on the three R’s Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

References : Anjali’s FB page : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anjali-Sinha/1521280831443875

 Edited by Jivya Rajesh for VAANI

17.7.15

VAANI AWARDS Winners list 2015

VAANI would like to extend its heart felt thanks to all the participants whose hard work and dedication made the VAANI AWARDS night a success.

Without your support and hard work it would not have been the same.

Please see below the winners list. If you have won a prize and haven’t received your award / certificate,  please do get in touch:.

Dance Competition

1st Prize
DanceLab Group
2nd Prize
Vinisha Agrawal
3rd Prize
Aarushi Agrawal / Maitreyie Bhatawadekar / Mansi Bhatawadekar
Judge’s Prize
Rising Star
Teenage Dance Group
Unique Concept
Shylene Nigam

Painting Competition


Age – 3 - 7
1st Prize
Aayan Nagra
2nd Prize
Dua Nagra
3rd Prize
Shaunak Singh
Judge’s Choice
Manasi Bhatawadekar


Age – 8 – 10
1st Prize
Ameen
2nd Prize
Vansh Deswal
3rd Prize
Abheer Kohli
Judge’s Choice
Md. Abeer Butt


Age – 11 - 16
1st Prize
Vinisha Agrawal
2nd Prize
Vrinda Bajaj
3rd Prize
Shristi Jha
Judge’s Choice
Pulkit Malhotra


Adult
1st Prize
Rumi Thakur
2nd Prize
Sana Patel
3rd Prize
Priti Bhatawadekar
Judge’s Choice
Anisha Agrawal


Salad Decoration Competition

1st Prize
Rumi Thakur
2nd Prize
Jyotsna Singh
3rd Prize
Chandra Bhushan Singh

Photography Competition

1st Prize
Arushi Agrawal
2nd Prize
Janya Singh
3rd Prize
Gurmit Kaur

Creative Writing Competition (Under 18)

1st Prize
Vinisha Agrawal
2nd Prize
Siddhartha Thakur
3rd Prize
Havik Singh
Judge’s Choice
Janya Singh

Creative Writing Competition (Adult)

1st Prize
Gayatri Tandon
2nd Prize
Vinita Agrawal
3rd Prize
Sana Patel
Judge’s Choice
Mohit Chandna
  

Congratulations to all the winners and also to all those who participated. I will follow it up with Photos and videos in my next post.

Thanks a lot
Smita

8.5.15

VAANI Competitions 2015


Short Story and poetry competition
Maximum 5000 words stories
Maximum 150 words poems
Not more than 2 entries per person
Email submissions to: submissions@vaani.org
Last date to submit: 15th June 2015
Three age groups:

  1. Under 10 years
  2. Under 17 years
  3. Adult


Photography Competition
Only Artistic/meaningful photographs accepted
Photos should accompany a brief description
Not more than 5 entries per person
Email submissions to: submissions@vaani.org
Last date to submit: 15th June 2015
Three age groups:

  1. Under 10 years
  2. Under 17 years
  3. Adult
Painting Competition
Theme: "Freedom"
Register by 15th June 2015 via email submissions@vaani.org
Date : 20th June 2015
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Arrive at 1.30 pm
Entry: £2
Ilford Central Library
Please note: you need to bring in your own paints, brushes, materials etc. we will provide painting paper but if you need canvas etc please bring it in.
Three age groups:

  1. Under 10 years
  2. Under 17 years
  3. Adult



Salad decoration Competition
Register by 15th June 2015 via email submissions@vaani.org
Date : 20th June 2015
11:00pm to 12:30pm
Arrive at 10.30 am
Entry: £2
Vine church, Holstock Road, Ilford, IG1 1QB
Please bring all the material, cutting devices, trays, bin bags etc.
Only for Adults

Best Dance Performances Trophies
The best Dance performance Trophies
will be given out
on the Annual Event based
on the night's performances.
Last Entry Date: 20th June 2015








VAANI Culture Night 2015



                             We invite people from different cultural background to represent their culture and come together on one stage. Dance performances, skits, musical performances, song performances and poetry readings are welcome. 
Both young and adults are invited to participate.

Entries for the Annual event closes on 20th June 2015

We are running various competitions this year as well. Please show your support by participating in them. 
The winners will be announced and prize distribution will be during our Annual event on 4th July 2015 TBC. The competitions details are to be followed in our next post.

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