The number of beauty pageants in Nepal has been on the rise of late. The authenticity of many of these pageants may be debatable, but the sense of excitement it evokes among enthusiasts, and contestants alike, is unquestionable.

Currently, the city of Dharan has been gripped by the Miss Purbanchal fever—which is set to conclude with a gala event later this week. Competing for the crown are 19 women of ages 17-24.

If you were to ask them the significance of the event, they’d all voice in unison, “Beauty pageants are for women empowerment… Events like these help boost the confidence of women; and also help us hone our leadership qualities.”

The ladies will be up against each other during the Gala Finale scheduled to take place at the Dharan Sabhagriha, on Saturday, June 25. The finale will be choreographed by Priya Rani Lama.

In a recently concluded Talent Round, the ladies, on an event recently held at Birat Chowk, showcased their skills; some danced, some recited their poems while some drew paintings. The contestants, who have been part of a month-long closed-camp, have been working on skills such as personality development, stage presence, arts and culture, among others. They have also taken part in several social work activities around town including a cleanup campaign, a blood donation event and traffic education.

According to the event manager Saurabh Shrestha, the title winner will bag a Yamaha Facino scooty along with tickets to travel overseas. While the first runner-up will bag a cash purse of Rs 51,000; second runner-up Rs 31,000; and the individual title winners will bag Rs 10,000 each.