In the presence of many Bollywood film stars and distinguished personalities of the fashion world, the much awaited Lakme India Fashion Week (LFW), commenced here on Tuesday.

Like earlier years, the five-day long grand event has once again brought country's best known creative minds in the fashion world on a single platform. With the participation of famous designers-like Ritu Beri, Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Manish Malhotra, Suneet Varma, Wendell Rodricks, Rocky S, Ashish Soni and Priyadarshini Rao-the show is all set to fascinate the fashion enthusiasts of the country.

The first day also witnessed the arrival of many newcomers dazzling everyone around with their finest collections. Mumbai-based Surily Goel made a sensational debut at the show with her theme 'Romance Personified' as she weaved a magical story about a young carefree girl who falls in love and eventually becomes a mature woman.

Glamorous Malaika Arora Khan and actress Neelam evoked Wows from the audience, while Bollywood heartthrob Salman Khan paid a surprise visit.

Meanwhile, the fashion designer Surily restricted herself to pom-poms on hemlines and cuffs and her favourite shells as tassels besides a few beaded belts and Rose motifs for tie-ups.

Her collection was made in fabrics like georgette, lace, and crochet and satin along with interesting experiments in prints, appealing to women from young flirty ones to the elegant mature ones.

"The collection was "roses forever". The highlight of my show was that all friends Maliaka and Neelam supporting me. Salman really rocked and went out of his way, I really appreciated it," said Goel, ecstatic after the show.

Bollywood's fashion darling Rocky S's "Lolita" collection was inspired by the intuitive killer instinct in a woman. The ensembles were in various hues of pink, cherry red and forest green--all embellished with gold.

Actor John Abraham turned up at the end of the show clad in a black wedding suit, drawing a frenzy of applause from the audience.

Lakme Fashion India Week (LFW) involves events like media seminars, business-to-business meetings and a buyers' forum, apart from the regular fashion shows.

LFW is the first independently organised by fashion accessories major, Lakme.

Meanwhile, The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) is holding another fashion week, the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week from April 5-9 in New Delhi.

Lakme had sponsored the last three India Fashion Weeks.

However, it branched off on its own after FDCI announced it would be holding separate fashion weeks for the spring/summer and fall/winter collections from 2006. The two organisations could not agree to the sponsorship amount for the events.