Clubs go big on celebrations

LUDHIANA: With just one day to go for Karva Chauth, the city's ladies clubs are making sure nothing is spared to make the festival a grand success.
On Thursday, Lakshmi Ladies Club near Rakh Bagh and Geetanjali Ladies Club on Hambran Road kicked off festivities in style by putting up Karva melas. While mehndi artists made sure the women returned home with intricate henna on their hands, the members kept themselves entertained by organizing colourful performances.
Stalls put up for the occasion were stocked with bangles, jewellery, dresses and all that goes into making a traditional Karva Chauth.
President of Geetanjali Ladies Club Monika Malhotra said, "Every woman wants to get the prettiest mehndi design on her hand for the day. So, we brought in artists and made sure everybody enjoyed the process. Everybody played tambola and also enjoyed a cultural show.'' For Manju Dewan, a club member, the opportunity to meet friends amid the festive atmosphere was welcome. "The tradition of celebrating Karva Chauth with others is coming back. We also love going out shopping in a huge group,'' she smiled.
At Lakshmi Ladies Club, the president, Shammi Bindra, said, "Members can not only buy the essentials of the festival from the mela, but also splurge on lightweight kundan and diamond jewellery.'' Here too, members played tambola and sang traditional numbers. In the end, every members walked home with a special gift. Club's treasurer Alka Malhotra said they had tried to provide everything required for the rituals so that members did not have to go looking for them in the markets.