Ludhiana, Feb 9 : For the first time ever in India, Sikh couples walked down a ramp in a couple contest in Ludhiana.

Donning both exquisite traditional and western outfits, around 170 couples participated in the contest titled "Guru Sikh Couple Contest" out whom ten contestants were chosen as the best.

Gurpreet Singh, one of the organisers of the contest, said the purpose of the event was to send out a message to the younger generation to keep their cultural values intact while professing modernity.

"Sikh Gurus teach that Sikhism is always modern. We organized this event to teach our young generation. The participants are all religious couples and they showed their talents," said Gurpreet Singh.

The contestants said it was tough to reach the final stage of the contest.

"The competition was very tough. Most of the couples are very intelligent. I can''t believe that I have reached this stage. But we worked really hard," said Kurinder Pal Singh, the first runner up of the contest.

Showcasing the rich heritage of Sikhs added colour to the event. (ANI)