Darjeeling, April 30: Miss India Earth Jyoti Brahmin returned to an out-of-the-world reception after a triumphant showing in India’s premier beauty pageant.

Hundreds of cheering hometown residents lined up along the approach road to her Singamari residence to felicitate the first woman from the hills to have reached the summit of the beauty boom.

With her tiara sparkling in the morning sun, Jyoti chose to walk the distance from Singamari Fatak to her home with neighbours and childhood friends (see picture).

“I have cooked alu-dum and momos since she wanted me to make these items for her. I am really happy for her and all she has achieved,” said Jyoti’s mother Hemlata Brahmin.

Very soon it seemed like the entire neighbourhood had descended on the Brahmin household to take part in the celebrations. Colourful buntings and the thump of loud music lent a carnival atmosphere.

“This is the place where Jyoti grew up. After her success in the pageant, I told her to come here soon because people who had encouraged and supported her in her endeavours would be happy to see her,” said Jyoti’s father Subash Brahmin.

Jyoti’s visit to her hometown, however, was a short one. After spending some time in the company of parents, friends and well wishers, the beauty queen had to leave for Siliguri en route to Delhi. With the crown, Jyoti now has a new set of responsibilities that leave her with little time. “It is so overwhelming to be home again. The people have showered a great deal of affection on me. I am thankful to my parents for having supported me,” said a beaming Jyoti.

Jyoti, who also bagged the Miss Beautiful Eyes and Miss Originality awards during the Femina Miss India contest in Mumbai, has already received three Bollywood offers, including one from the legendary Dev Anand.

“I have been given a responsibility and till the Miss Earth contest, scheduled to be held in Philippines is over in October, I have no other plans,” said Jyoti regarding the offers coming her way. The beauty queen also said she was not considering joining the film industry any time soon.

“I have also asked her to reflect before committing anything on paper at this point of time,” said Hemlata.

Though a number of friends asked Jyoti about the controversy that broke out this year at India’s most prestigious pageant, she refused to comment and only said: “Let us bury the past and look forward to the future. That (the controversy) is over.”

For Hemlata, watching her daughter during the actual contest was at once pleasurable and agonising. “As soon as the competition was over, I had rung her up to console her. Jyoti said she was happy and there was no need to console her. I too felt happy as Jyoti had already bagged two awards and there were many participants who had got nothing,” she said.

Before leaving Darjeeling, Jyoti attended a felicitation ceremony organised by the Nagarik Surakcha Committee at Tourist Lodge. A number of speakers at the event said Jyoti’s success would do wonders for the confidence levels of talented people in the hills.