Police said it was a symbolic protest with no violence. No one was arrested.

The 15-year-old pageant, which had in the past faced mild protests, could not be held last year after the Maoists came to power and waged war on it.

However, since they had allowed dozens other similar contests to be held, their anger was seen to be actually directed against the Indian company that is the main sponsor of Miss Nepal, Dabur Nepal, the wholly owned subsidiary of Dabur India.

After the fall of the Maoist government this year, the Hidden Treasure, the event management company franchised to hold the contest, decided to go ahead with a low-key show.

It is now being positioned as the Fem Miss Nepal contest since very few people in Nepal are aware that Dabur has bought out Fem.

Zenisha will take part in the Miss World contest to be held in Johannesburg in December while Richa will participate in the Miss Earth 2009 contest in the Philippines next month.