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Hyderabad's Shilparamam turns global village as Miss World 2025 contestants experience Telangana's living traditions

Hyderabad's Shilparamam turns global village as Miss World 2025 contestants experience Telangana's living traditions

The Hindu22-05-2025
Shilparamam, the cultural village nestled in the heart of Hyderabad, was transformed into a global stage on Thursday (May 22, 2025) as 40 European contestants participating in the Miss World 2025 were welcomed to dive into Telangana's rich crafts heritage. The visit offered the contestants a snapshot of India's living traditions, celebrated through colour, craft, and community.
The visit began with a traditional welcome, melodic strains of the Nadaswaram filled the air as the contestants were presented with marigold bouquets. A photo session soon followed, capturing moments of cross-cultural camaraderie against the backdrop of Telangana's artistic landscape.
The contestants explored Shilparamam's artisan stalls and walked through the village museum, where life-sized models depicted rural lifestyles from across the country. A brief but joyful celebration of Bathukamma, Telangana's floral festival, saw the contestants join a traditional dance.
One of the highlights of the visit was the hands-on experience at the Brundavanam Craft Experience Zone. Here, the contestants tried their hand at traditional art forms such as pottery, Cheriyal mask painting, and basket weaving. Under the guidance of local artisans, these 10 to 15 minute sessions offered them a connection to India's age-old crafts.
The contestants also interacted with women from Self Help Groups (SHGs) whose livelihood initiatives were centred around traditional crafts. A short presentation highlighted how these women-led enterprises are not only preserving cultural heritage but also strengthening rural economies.
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