As the preparations for this year’s Miss Nepal pageant gather steam, The Hidden Treasure, the organisers of the beauty pageant, have, in association with R.B Diamond Jewellers, unveiled a new crown, on Wednesday, March 15, that will be awarded to the winners at the grand finale, scheduled to be held on  April 8.

The crowns have been designed with the aim of showcasing Nepal’s culture and its beauty in the international platform; and to that end, the themes for the crowns have been considered with care. Speaking at the event, Gopal Sundar Lal Kakshapati, chairman of The Hidden Treasure, said, “With the aim of reflecting the nation’s culture, society, its people and their story, the crowns for this year have been forged with the vision of showcasing the depth and finesse of Nepali artistry.”

The crowns were made possible through the collaboration of the many designers who worked on the project. The Miss Nepal crown, to be awarded to the winner, has the traditional Akhe jhyaal—a staple of traditional Newari architecture—as its focal point. The open window of the Akhe jhyaal was picked by the designers to signify the open heart of the Nepali people—always welcoming guests with their warm hearts, explained RB Diamond’s Ramesh Maharjan. “Its strong centre piece has been balanced by floral patterns that are inspired by dense forests and the natural beauty of Nepal. The crown also assimilates the sun and the moon from the national flag into its design,” he added. 

The crown for the first runner up has been designed incorporating the traditional ornament Sirbandi into its design. The second runner up crown has the Goddess Kumari as its focal point, and was designed to emphasise on the need to empower women, and to help them find their inner strength. 

“The crowns have been crafted, taking pains to make sure they reflect Nepaliness. All three have stones of various origins that have been placed individually into the structure, whilst carefully considering the big picture,” Kakshapati further added. In an interesting detail, Royal Blue Kyanite, which are mined and cut in Nepal, have been placed in the centre of each of the crowns. At the unveiling, members of the team of designers confided that in a matter of 45 days—the time it took to bring the crowns to life—over 2000 stones were set into the crowns.

With the gala event for this year’s pageant now merely weeks away, the unveiling of the new crowns has added to the palpable excitement. And now, as the organisers reiterate, there is uniquely Nepali crowns befitting a Miss Nepal.