Page 20 - The Indian EYE 062422

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JUNE 24, 2022 | The Indian Eye 20

Damini of New Jersey shines at

Ladies Day saree event in London

Damini NJ sponsored the top six prizes at Royal Ascot. All were hand loomed sarees

OUR BUREAU
Edison, NJ
mita Singh the owner of
DAMINI in New Jersey, the
Alargest fashion outlet in the
US, flew to London this week to par-
ticipate in an event where more than
1,000 women, mostly of Indian ori-
gin, created history as they all turned
up dressed in sarees.

At the Ladies’ Day held at Royal
Ascot on Thursday, some wom-

en turned up in sarees made
by a humble “Kantha” artisan
from West Bengal named Rupa
Khatun who had never heard

of Queen Elizabeth II, let alone
Royal Ascot. Amita Singh at the event

Amita Singh is known in social
circles here for wearing beautiful sa-
rees. Damini NJ sponsored the top
six prizes at Royal Ascot. All were
hand loomed sarees.
The famous race meeting, which
the royal family arrive at in horse-
drawn carriages, normally sees men
in morning suits and top hats and
women in striking hats.
But UK-based doctor Dipti Jain,
who hails from Kolkata, came up
with the idea for a crowd of women
to wear sarees to Ascot to showcase
their pride in their national heritage
and celebrate the creations of Indi- The organizer of the event, Dr. Dipti Jain, and the judges
an weavers.
Most came from Britain but
some flew in from other countries, mal training in making sarees. I just is famous for “kantha” embroidery. Amita Singh with Dr Dipti Jain
including India, according to a TNN learnt from the other women in the “This is the hardest saree I have
report. village and my mother and grand- ever made. I am used to traditional
Jain’s silk saree was hand-em- mother. I am really proud. I did not prints,” she added. It took her four K Nurul Hoda on WhatsApp, who
broidered with London and Kolkata know about the Queen, London or months to make, with help from oth- lives in the same village as Khatun.
skylines, the Queen’s face, Big Ben, Big Ben before,” she told TNN. er women. He sketched them on the fabrics and
a red phone box and the Tower of “I am so happy that I am getting “The hardest part was making bought the materials and Khatun
London, by an artisan from Nanoor, recognized. As of now, I just give my the Queen’s face absolutely per- made the saree.
West Bengal, named Rupa Khatun sarees to the middleman who sells it fect.” Khatun also made a silk stole
(33). to the market. No one gives us any Tanima Paul, who promotes In- with a Union Jack and the Queen’s
Sitting at her home on Thurs- recognition. I am really proud of this dian artisans in the UK, designed face on, which the group plan to gift
day, Khatun was beaming from head saree. It has got such massive appre- the saree and sent over Google im- to the Queen, whose horses race
to foot. “I have never had any for- ciation,” said Khatun, whose village ages of Big Ben and the Queen to S at Ascot. “I wish I could meet the

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