MAM
Nihar Kesh Utsav: A tribute to Maa Durga by Marico’s Nihar Naturals
Mumbai: With a multi-touchpoint brand initiative “Nihar Kesh Utsav”, Marico’s Nihar Naturals embarked on a heartfelt journey to honour Maa Durga this Pujo. The initiative that spanned across two weeks had an array of extraordinary digital and on-ground experiences to build a deeper connect with the brand’s audience.
The Nihar Kesh Utsav commenced with an advertisement on ZEE Bangla, featuring the well-known Bengali television actress, Divyani Mondal communicating the message that all hair types are beautiful as long as they are healthy. Through the ad film and her social media pages, Divyani invited viewers to enter a contest by submitting photos of their beautiful hair with Nihar Naturals via WhatsApp. Over the course of 15 days, the contest received 2000 entries and overall, the campaign achieved a whopping reach of close to 1.6Mn. Some of the best entries were featured in a Nihar Naturals Ad amplifying the campaign message “All hair is beautiful”. This ad will be aired exclusively on Zee Bangla for four days starting 5 December.
Furthermore, in a heartfelt gesture to honour the rich culture of West Bengal and strengthen the bond with their consumers, Nihar Naturals crafted a magnificent 10-foot-tall Durga Maa idol, crafted entirely from approximately 300 coconuts, one of the core ingredients in Nihar Naturals Hair Oil. The idol was inaugurated by Actress Divyani Mondal at the Maddox Square Pandal on 18 October. The brand also set up a hairdo booth spearheaded by the most sought-after celebrity hairstylist in Tollywood, Jolly Chanda. Visitors were treated to a complimentary hairdo session by skilled experts from Jolly’s team.
To generate excitement about the contest and attract visitors to witness the innovative Durga Maa idol, Nihar Naturals strategically positioned branded kiosks at 50 Resident Welfare Associations across Kolkata on the 14 and 15 of October. These kiosks engaged the residents with various games and activities. In addition, renowned Bengali actress Shweta Bhattacharya also visited the kiosks and interacted with the residents further intensifying the event’s anticipation and buzz.
Marico Ltd chief marketing officer Somasree Bose Awasthi said, “The Nihar Naturals Kesh Utsav activation this Pujo marked a significant milestone for the brand, as we built a deeper connect with our consumers across touchpoints with a culturally immersive experience. Undoubtedly, the highlight was the awe-inspiring 10-foot Durga Pujo idol made from approx. 300 coconuts, an ingredient that consumers identify with when they think of Nihar Naturals. Our primary objective with this activation was to express our gratitude to our cherished Nihar consumers in West Bengal for their unwavering trust and support of Nihar Naturals over the years.”
MAM
Beacon Group appoints Dr Rajesh Patel as Group CEO
36-year healthcare veteran to lead Beacon Diagnostics, Vector Biotek, Biogeny.
MUMBAI: A new chief, a fresh diagnosis and a sharper prescription for growth. Beacon Group has appointed Dr Rajesh Patel as its Group Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1, 2026, signalling a decisive push to scale its presence in the diagnostics and IVD space. Patel steps into the role with 36 years of experience across the healthcare and diagnostics industry, bringing a career shaped by leadership roles spanning sales, marketing, business development and operational strategy. His mandate is both expansive and precise: to steer the group’s overall strategic direction while tightening coordination across its three core entities Beacon Diagnostics, Vector Biotek and Biogeny Diagnostics.
In practical terms, that means driving cross-company synergies, accelerating market expansion and strengthening organisational capability areas increasingly critical as diagnostic players compete for scale in a fragmented yet rapidly evolving healthcare ecosystem. The group is positioning itself to capture unmet demand across chain laboratories, key accounts and standalone labs, segments that remain underserved despite growing diagnostic needs.
The appointment comes at a time when the In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) sector in India is entering a more competitive and innovation-led phase, with companies focusing not just on product pipelines but also on service delivery, integration and customer-centric models. Beacon’s leadership appears to be betting that Patel’s execution-focused approach can help translate ambition into operational momentum.
Welcoming the appointment, Chairman Dr D K Joshi described Patel’s induction as a strategic move aligned with the group’s long-term vision, emphasising the role of leadership depth in navigating the next phase of growth.
For Beacon Group, the message is clear, in a sector where precision matters, leadership is the new differentiator—and this appointment is intended to set the tone for what comes next.
