Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, chief guest on Monday at the 30th edition of Devi Awards, hoped “the winners will go forward with their creative work and will continue to inspire younger women”.

He said the awards recognise and honour exceptional women who display dynamism and innovation in their chosen fields across various sectors.

The New Indian Express Group has so far organised 29 events of Devi Awards and has honoured 310 winners, who, Khan said, “continue to inspire, influence and ignite millions through their dedication”. The awards “celebrate not merely these extraordinary women, but it celebrates their dynamism, innovation and resilience”.

He said: “Our cultural tradition attaches great significance to the celebration of excellence. When excellence is celebrated, the energy of everybody participating in the celebration is appended to it and we feel great.”

On the theme of the awards, he said: “It is eminently appropriate that the organisers have chosen Contribution of Women in the Making of Great Bharat as the discussion topic.”