New Delhi, March 5 (IANS) A day after US President George W. Bush showered praises on India, the French ambassador here followed suit, saluting the Indian spirit at a fashion show by noted designer Ritu Beri.

Ambassador Dominique Girard was addressing the audience Saturday night at a show held at the French embassy where Beri's Rs.100,000 book "Fire Fly" was formally released.

"The world is rushing to India. Everybody is coming because India is attracting with its works at home and also because so many Indians are working well outside," said Girard.

"We are very happy with the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal," Girard later told IANS.

"Fire Fly", with only 100 copies in print, was released by Commerce Minister Kamal Nath.

The first copy of the book was auctioned at the event for a whopping Rs.140,000. Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia, currently on a brief visit to India, made the successful bid.

The proceeds from the auction would go to the Kalakar Trust, an NGO working for underprivileged artists living in slums here.

The event brought another delight for the celebrated designer as she was presented with the annual Les Trois Fileuses Dor award from the Paris-based International Association for Young Creators (IAYC). Former international supermodel Anne De Champigneul presented the award to Beri for her contribution to Indian fashion in the international fashion arena.

The fashion show, earlier in the evening, presented a limited range of designs that depicted the concept of Beri's book "Fire Fly". Six exclusive outfits, with elaborate works, were presented at the show that drew generous rounds of applause from the audience.