Navy Ball at Kochi
Vice Admiral Satish Soni, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Southern Naval Command inaugurating the Navy Ball by rolling the Navy Ball.
Ms Melissa Raju Thomas being crowned Navy Queen 2012 by Vice Admiral Satish Soni, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Southern Naval Command.
The Navy Ball – the signature event symbolising the tradition and modernity of Indian Navy was held at Southern Naval Command Officers Mess at Kochi on 22nd Dec 12. Vice Admiral Satish Soni, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command rolled the Ball and set off the celebrations. Ms Melissa Raju Thomas was crowned the Navy Queen 2012 at the associated Navy Queen Pageant. Ms Aneesha Salma Ummer, and Ms Pavithra Menon were declared first and second runner up of Navy Queen contest respectively.
Ayushmann Khurana of Vicky Donor fame and Mayanti Langar conducted the event on stage. The beauty pageant was interspersed with the sizzling dance performance by the Bangalore based contemporary dance company ‘Nritarutya’. The popular hindi pop group ‘A Band of Boys’ took the stage later to rock the party after the Pageant. Mumbai based DJ Praveen Nair kept up the tempo at the dance floor. The Navy ball had an excellent mix of uniformed Naval officers and civilian dignitaries who danced till the wee hours of the morning.
The jury for the Navy Queen contest comprised of Ms Payal Soni, President Navy Wives Welfare Association (Southern Region), Ms Parveen Hafiz, entrepreneur, Mrs Manjeri, Playback singer, Lieutenant General Vijai Sharma, Engineer in Chief of the Indian Army and Rear Admiral Ashok Kumar, Chief of Staff of Southern Naval Command.
From left to right, Ms Aneesha Salma Ummer, First Runner-up, Ms Melissa Raju Thomas, Navy Queen 2012, Ms Pavithra Menon Second Runner Up.
The Navy Queen wins jewellery worth Rs 1, 25,000 along with Rs 1, 00,000 as a cash prize. The First Runner Up gets jewellery worth Rs 1, 00,000 and a cash prize of Rs 75,000 while the second Runner Up gets jewellery worth Rs 75,000 and a cash prize of Rs 50, 000. All three winners are slated to get tickets for two to international destinations. Well-known choreographer Dalu was the official choreographer and personality trainer and fitness expert Aaradhana Mahlawat conducted sessions on communications skills and personality development. Studio Revive groomed the participants and designer Jules Idi Amin from Chennai selected the wardrobe. A visit to the showroom of jewellery partner ‘Sunny Diamonds’ for selection of jewellery and a photo session by an official fashion photographer were part of the programme. The young ladies were also taken on a guided tour of the Naval Base and warships and aircraft. INS Garuda conducted the Navy Ball - the final event of Navy Day celebrations.
