<p>Actress Lisa Ray, who was the guest of honour at this year's event, was presented with the Special Achievement Award for her contribution to cinema. Toronto-born Ray, who has just recovered from a cancer of white blood cells, thanked the organizers for the award.<br /><br />One of the major cultural events of the Indo-Canadian community across Canada, the annual beauty pageant draws a huge response as it features high-voltage musical performances, songs, catwalks and quizzing of the contestants.<br /><br />Many of the past winners, including Kamal Sidhu, Ruby Bhatia and Gita Bali , went on to make a name for themselves in Bollywood, music and television.<br /><br />During more than four hours which involves cocktails, dinner, dances and music, contestants were first put through three segments of the pageant - Indian Dress, Evening Gown, and Talent. <br /><br />They were then shortlisted to five. After intervals of music and dance, the five finalists were put though the final question-and-answer session.<br /><br />Nineteen-year-old Akhina Mooken, who was finally crowned Miss India-Canada, will have a free trip to India, apart from various awards.<br /><br />Bestowing the crown on her, event organizer Sanjay Agnihotri said Mooken will work with with various social organizations in Canada and India.<br /><br />Started by the late Punjabi businessman Kush Agnihotri, the Miss India-Canada pageant is the biggest and oldest Indian beauty show in North America.</p>
<p>Actress Lisa Ray, who was the guest of honour at this year's event, was presented with the Special Achievement Award for her contribution to cinema. Toronto-born Ray, who has just recovered from a cancer of white blood cells, thanked the organizers for the award.<br /><br />One of the major cultural events of the Indo-Canadian community across Canada, the annual beauty pageant draws a huge response as it features high-voltage musical performances, songs, catwalks and quizzing of the contestants.<br /><br />Many of the past winners, including Kamal Sidhu, Ruby Bhatia and Gita Bali , went on to make a name for themselves in Bollywood, music and television.<br /><br />During more than four hours which involves cocktails, dinner, dances and music, contestants were first put through three segments of the pageant - Indian Dress, Evening Gown, and Talent. <br /><br />They were then shortlisted to five. After intervals of music and dance, the five finalists were put though the final question-and-answer session.<br /><br />Nineteen-year-old Akhina Mooken, who was finally crowned Miss India-Canada, will have a free trip to India, apart from various awards.<br /><br />Bestowing the crown on her, event organizer Sanjay Agnihotri said Mooken will work with with various social organizations in Canada and India.<br /><br />Started by the late Punjabi businessman Kush Agnihotri, the Miss India-Canada pageant is the biggest and oldest Indian beauty show in North America.</p>