Celebrities throng Darjeeling in idol support Darjeeling, Sept. 7: The hill town continues to draw Prashant Tamang fans from across the Nepali fraternity. The Indian Idol contestant has made it to the last three positions in the music reality show and needs votes through SMS to maintain his position. The local boy’s luck is tested every Friday night when the votes decide which of the participants are going to stay. Nepali celebrities from Darjeeling, Sikkim and Nepal are therefore coming here to perform live and gather support for Prashant. The fans on the other hands are collecting money to buy recharge vouchers. The latest in the list is Neel David, a hair stylist from Kathmandu, who organised a workshop on hair care at Gymkhana Rink Hall today to raise funds. “The proceeds from the workshop will be given to Prashant’s family,” said David, who has been actively campaigning for Prashant in Nepal. A large number of women waited in queue to get their hair done for prices ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 550. “We have come here because an international hair stylist is in town and also because the proceeds are going for someone who is dear to us,” said Priya Subba, a housewife. Even as the workshop was in progress, a team of about 30 Prashant supporters including upcoming Nepali film actress Namrata Jha and singer Prakash Poudyal organised a musical show at the venue. The singers from Nepal, who were felicitated by Prashant’s mother Rupa Tamang, shared the dais with local singer Santosh Tamang and 12-year-old Prakriti Giri, who has been selected for another reality show. Contributions are pouring in from across the hills to help make Prashant the next Indian Idol. Rupa was given Rs 14,000 by different groups during the day. “Sponsors have come forward to book entire telephone booths. We will have three booths at INOX Darjeeling and people can come and vote as much as they want to,” said Tenzing Khambachay, the ward commissioner of Darjeeling. Teachers of Suntala Parijat Memorial Junior High School in Pulbazar — 30km from here — have decided to buy recharge vouchers with money collected for Teacher’s Day. “The students had collected about Rs 3,000. We told them to use the money to vote for Prashant,” said Kailash Pandey, a teacher of the school. Residents of the Singmari-Tukvar area in Darjeeling have collected almost Rs 3 lakh for the purpose. GNLF leader Bimal Gurung has decided to distribute vouchers worth Rs 1.5 lakh to volunteers at Singmari today. Arrangements have been made to telecast the programme on a giant screen in the open. Members of Darjeeling Gymkhana Club will organise a contest and will give a prize to the highest voter.