New Delhi: Transgender models did the catwalk at Under the Rainbow, a unique fashion show also featuring drag queens and people with disability.

The event was held here at Kitty Su, The Lalit.

From Miss Trans Queen India, two transgender staff members from The Lalit Group staff, Indian drag queens, DJ Kitty Glitter who was crowned Sydney's Favourite Drag Queen in 2006 were among the models. 

Differently-abled DJ Varun Khullar mixed the music for the show.

They were dressed up by celebrated Indian designers such as Rohit Bal, Tarun Tahliani, Namrata Joshipura, Gauri Nainika, Geisha Designs by Paras and Shalini, Pallavi Mohan and Arjun Saluja.

The idea behind the event was to send out a message of love and inclusiveness as the New Year beckons.

Kitty Su has earlier hosted popular international drag artists such as Alaska 5000, Violet Chachki, Derrick Barry and Kitty Glitter.

Keshav Suri, Executive Director, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, has also conceptualised a local Drag Queen Tour featuring actor, model and singer Sushant Divgikar, crowned as Mr Gay India 2014 and who participated in "Bigg Boss season 8".

Sushant was initiated as Rani Ko-He-Nur into drag, and together, they curated a few shows. The show also featured Alex Mathew, popularly known as Maya The Drag Queen.

"We are not only hosting successful inclusive events, we are redefining set society norms, and I am proud to say that we are making a difference. It's not just the government or the institutions, but it is the people who must act to make a difference. All we need for 2018 is pure love," Suri said in a statement.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Bengaluru (PTI): An estimated 38.23 per cent turnout was reported during the first half of the day in Karnataka, where the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in 14 of 28 constituencies is underway on Friday.

According to election officials, 38.23 per cent of the electorate in Karnataka had cast their vote till 1 PM. Voting began at 7.00 am and will end by 6.00 pm.

Out of 14 segments that are going to the polls today, the highest turnout of 48.10 per cent was recorded in Dakshina Kannada, followed by Udupi-Chikmagalur 46.43 per cent, and the least 30.10 per cent in Bangalore Central.

The turnout was 31.51 per cent in Bangalore South, and 32.25 per cent in Bangalore North.

In the first phase, the Congress is contesting in all 14 seats, BJP has fielded nominees in 11 and its alliance partner JD(S), which joined the National Democratic Alliance in (NDA) in September last year, in three -- Hassan, Mandya and Kolar.

Besides those three, the segments where elections are being held on Friday are Udupi-Chikmagalur, Dakshina Kannada, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Bangalore Rural, Bangalore North, Bangalore Central, Bangalore South and Chikkaballapur.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Congress and JD(S), which were in alliance and in power in the state back then, had secured just one seat each in these 14 segments. The BJP had won in 11 and ensured the victory of a party supported independent candidate in Mandya.

On Friday, Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress President D K Shivakumar along with his family cast his vote at Doddalahalli in Kanakapura of Ramanagara district. Mandya MP Sumalatha Ambareesh also cast her vote.

Cricketing legend Anil Kumble, Ayodhya Ram Mandir's Ram lalla sculptor Arun Yogiraj and former Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde were among prominent persons who cast their votes during the day, along with IT industry veterans Kris Gopalakrishnan and Mohandas Pai.

Biotechnology veteran Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon, after casting her vote, in a post on social media platform X said, "As a responsible citizen of our great country, I have cast my vote. Jai hind"

Film stars Upendra, Shivarajkumar and Sudeep too exercised their franchise during the first half of the day.