Londoners Celebrate ‘Konkan Day’ with Mangalorean Flavour
24th May 2009: Timing was perfect;
weather was beautiful with clear skies and plenty of sunshine. This is not
about IPL match but about “Konkan Day”, one of the largest events of the year
in UK Konkans’ calendar. Mangaloreans living in London and faraway places witnessed
this spectacular spiritual and social event by actively participating in it.
The day started with a solemn Eucharist presided by
Rev. Fr Olvin Veigas SJ in Konkani, who also thanked the Almighty God for the
many blessings the UK Konkans received in the last five years. The Alter was beautifully
decorated by Gratian D’Silva and Eric D’ Souza led the melodious choir,
supported by the young Konkan teenager Melosa D’Souza on the piano. In his Homily, Fr. Veigas explained that
in-order to believe the truth of the resurrection of Jesus, we need not only
faith but also imagination. And the imagination of Risen Jesus caught the
attention of Apostles to preach the Good News and build the church to which we
belong today. So too, to run an association, we need an imagination which can
draw people from every side. And for that, UK Konkans is a platform for Konkani
speakers to come together and make a difference in society. Being away from the
homeland should not fail us in taking the opportunities of the place to bring a
change in the Diaspora community but also for our people back home. He gave the
examples of Konkani Diaspora websites www.mangalorean.com
and www.daijiworld.com which have made a
difference and contributed immensely to society. Recalling
the significant role played by the Catholic Konkani associations in the US,
especially influencing the government in protecting the minorities back home,
Fr Olvin asked all Konkans to join hands together at this time of history.
In his welcome speech
the president of UK Konkans, Raphael D’Souza highlighted that in an
increasingly English, Kannada dominant culture, the
place of Konkani is slowly taking a backstage in the undivided South Canara. He
praised the excellent work done by various Konkani associations in UK like, Mangalorean
United Konkani Association, Nottingham (MUKA), Konkani Catholic Association,
Manchester (KCA), and UK Konkans, to preserve Konkani language and culture.
As part of the program various icebreaking games were
conducted for the children and then for adults by Gretta
D’souza and Margaret D’Souza
Anitha Sequiera and John Fernandes both of MUKA, showed
their natural talent while dancing to the tune of ‘Hallon Dollon’.
Vice President of UK Konkans, Gratian D’Silva and Sunil
D'Cunha, President of MUKA gave the taste of their singing talent with songs.
The
highlight of the event was popular dance ‘Adanv Bapa’ by MUKA team, comprising Vincent
D'souza, John Fernandes, Stany Sequiera, Deepak Alvares, Harold D'souza and
Pius Rasquinha, which won hearts of the audience.
The multi-talented Melosa
D’Souza gave a brilliant performance by her dance.
The
young and adult alike had a great laugh at a skit played by MUKA group lead by
Stany Sequiera, John Fernandes, Flossy Fernandes, Vincent D'souza, Deepak
Alvares and Joshua Pinto.
Dorothy
Prakash won applauds for her direction and choreography of group dance with
Bollywood Remix. Shalini Pinto, Dorothy Prakash and Sunitha Rodrigues of MUKA
group gave a stupendous performance while the crowd whistled and clapped all
through the dance.
Ashuntha
Periera, the London based Konkani writer and actress performed a comedy skit-Modern
Bikari with Tom D’souza, Roshani D’silva and Raphael D’Souza.
The delicious Mangalorean meal was prepared by Beena
D’Souza, Seena Poojari and Ramesh Achari.
Zenita Gonsalves compeered the
whole program for the joy of one and all. Another highlight of the programs was
that the active participation by the members of the MUKA, Nottingham who showed
being far away from London programs can be organized together
successfully.
A modest sum of offering which was
collected at the Mass will be sent to MANASA Rehabilitation and Training
Centre, Pamboor, Udupi
District, as a way to support the lay initiatives of Catholic Sabha in Mangalore Diocese.
This event was co-sponsored by Nancy Pinto,
manager of Beech Tree Care Home in Hampishire, Basingstoke.