Kerala:  People were shocked when the name of a hijab-clad woman was announced the winner in the women’s category of the Mr. Kerala competition in Kochi recently.

Wearing a hijab and into professional bodybuilding, the 23-year-old Majiziya Bhanu from Kerala is breaking stereotypes.

Studying to be a dentist, Majiziya Bhanu has already won several laurels for power lifting. But her latest victory even came as a surprise for her.

 "I was completely shocked when I won in the bodybuilding competition", Majiziya recalls. Majiziya won the best woman fitness physique at the Mr Kerala contest organised by body lifting Association.

With a smile Majiziya says she has a message. "I am comfortable with my Hijab. And I am pursuing whatever I want. I am grateful to my parents who have stood by me and my fiance. Women should be allowed to pursue their dreams. "

Awarded the title of the strongest woman of Kerala thrice by the state's Powerlifting Association, It's hard to believe that she began her power-lifting training only towards the end of 2016.

"She trains like a boy... I mean even boys don't train like she does. She has given her everything. It's not common to see women wearing hijab and training here. But she has overcome her difficulties", Shamaz, her gym instructor says.

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New Delhi, May 20: A one-day state mourning will be observed across India on Tuesday as a mark of respect for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash, the Union Home Ministry has announced.

The national flag will be flown at half-mast on all buildings where it is regularly flown across India and there will be no official entertainment during the period of state mourning.

The Iranian president, the country's foreign minister and several other officials were found dead on Monday, hours after their helicopter crashed in a foggy, mountainous region of the country's northwest, Iran state media reported.

A home ministry spokesperson said Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Hossein Amit-Abdollahian, the country's foreign minister, passed away in a helicopter crash.

"As a mark of respect to the departed dignitaries, the government of India has decided that there will be one day's state mourning on May 21 (Tuesday) throughout India," the spokesperson said.

"On the day of mourning, the national flag will be flown at half-mast throughout India on all buildings where the national flag is flown regularly and there will be no official entertainment on the day," the official added.