Manchester: KCAUK celebrates Monthi Fest

Manchester: KCAUK celebrates Monthi Fest

Mangalore Today News Network

Report by KCAUK team

Manchester, September 14: KCAUK celebrated their dual joys on September 11, 2010 at the Gandhi Hall in Manchester UK. The first was the celebration of the feast of Nativity Consecutively for the fifth year in United Kingdom and the second was the celebration of the  fifth anniversary of the KCAUK Association. The Mangalorean Konkani speaking families from different parts of UK gathered on time as one family to fete this dual joy. This thrilling support from the guests not only renewed the spirit of happiness to fete this feast but also inspired to carry on this feast in a typical Mangalorean Culture, Custom and Tradition.

 

 

 

 

 

The celebration commenced with the prayers offered by the Managing Trustee of Samanvaya   Rev.Dr.Pius Fidelis Pinto who initially blessed the new corns. This was soon followed by the showers of flowers by the children and the adults as an offering to Infant Mary to commemorate her birthday; whilst the choir simultaneously sang the hymn "Morieak Hogolxieam".

After this, Mr.Stany Rodrigues welcomed the guest and the holy mass began. The first reading was read by Mrs. Evet Pinto and the second by Mrs. Lainet Pinto. This was followed by the homily given by Rev.Dr.Pius Fidelis Pinto. In his homily he addressed the guests explaining them the historical data and the developments of the feast of Nativity in a historical prospective and in a scholarly manner. He stressed the need for a family spirit and the respect for the tradition which has been handed down for centuries. The choir uplifted the spirit by the melodious singing by the Choir team led by Mr. Stanislaus Mendonca and his team members.

 

 

The prayers of repentance were read by Mrs. Reshma Lobo, Mrs. Lavina Monis and Mrs. Arshiya Pereira. The prayers of the faithful were read by Mr. Ronald Lobo, Mrs. Charlotte Barboza, Mrs. Laveena Ivy Castelino, Mrs. Renny Bhutello, Mrs. Arshiya Pereira and Mr. Kenneth D’sa. The Eucharistic Celebration was elated by the choir team and by the melodious music of Mr. Sujith Rodrigues, Mr.Mukesh Kannan and Mr. Joe Andrade which uplifted the spirit & joy of the feast and made the hearts of the congregation more merrier.

After the holy mass Mr. Richard D’silva arranged and served the soft drink to all the guests. Mr. James Ravi Pinto, the Master of Ceremonies brilliantly took the lead to channelize the events for the rest of the day. The President of KCA-UK Mr.Santhosh Pinto extended his warm welcome to all the guests.

 
After this all the elderly people who were amongst the assemblage were invited to the dais to actively participate in mixing the blessed corn with the milk which was later shared with all the guests. Their presence made the guest to remember their family members back in home town and also their near and dear ones.

To commemorate the fifth anniversary of KCAUK this year, the editor in chief of Konkanifriends.com was invited on the dais. He addressed the guests, and he remembered the members of the past three committees and their families for their devotion and hard work rendered to this association over the last five years. He expressed his gratitude to the past three KCA-UK presidents namely Mr.Ronald Lobo, Mr. James Ravi Pinto and Mr.Santhosh Pinto. Mr. Raj Francis Pereira invited Rev.Dr.Pius Fidelis Pinto on the dais to felicitate the past three presidents of KCA UK for their noteworthy achievements in stabilizing the roots of our mother tongue Konkani in United Kingdom.

Rev.Dr.Pius Fidelis Pinto felicitated three past presidents and appreciated the KCAUK Team for their noteworthy achievements. He also wished his very best for the newly elected committee members to carry on this noteworthy work for the community with more hard work and efficiency wishing them all success in the years to come. The current president of KCAUK Mr. Santhosh Pinto who completed his term along with his team members on this day handed over the responsibilities to the newly elected president Mr. Stany Rodrigues who now took over the charge with his newly elected team.

 
The newly elected committee which will now render its services for the next two years from today till September 2012 comprises of Mr. Stany Rodrigues as a President, Mr. Raj Francis Pereira as the Vice President, Mr. Vinod Barboza as the Secretary, Mr. Martin Saldhana as the Joint Secretary, Mrs. Anita D’silva as the Cultural secretary, Mr. Ronald Lobo as the treasurer and Mrs. Marina Monis as the Communication Co-coordinator.

After the embarked ceremonial procedure came to an end, the cultural activities commenced with the prayer song and dance ‘Namo Namo’ performed by Mrs. Dorothy Prakash. This was followed by another dance by the young talents, Ms. Fiona D’silva, Ms.Rhiana D’silva and Ms.Melisha Barboza.

Traditional meal with seven different types of delicious vegetables, including Sanna, Rice and Orn were prepared by KCA UK members which were later served to the KCAUK guests. KCAUK specially thanked Mr.Martin Saldanha, Mr.Alwyn Bhutello, and Mr. John Furthado for their dedicated work and also for their planning and co-ordination in arranging the food for all guests in time.

After the lunch, the second CD, ‘Ye Gho Pisoliea’ of Mr. Stany Mendonca was officially launched in UK by Rev. Dr. Pius Fidelio Pinto. After the inauguration of this CD, Mr.Stany Mendonca introduced the gathering the love of music by singing the title song of his second CD in  co-ordination with Mrs. Anasuya Gomes.

The events of the day further continued with a thrilling dance by Mr. James Ravi Pinto and Mrs. Anitha D’silva. Various talents very presented before the guests. Ms.Crystal Furthado and Ms. Sonal Mendonca from Sunderland danced their feet to the bollywood music and Mr. Sunil D’Cunha the former president of MUKA UK of Nottingham kept the momentum of the event lively by his two melodious songs. Mrs.Lainet Pinto, Mrs. Anthony Mary Rodrigues, Mrs. Charlotte Barboza, Mrs. Laveena Ivy Castelino, Mrs.Reena Rodrigues and Mrs. Arshiya Pereira of Manchester; Ms.Melrina, Ms. Melita and Ms. Shimona, Mrs. Shalini and Mrs. Dorothy  Prakash performed different group dances which further entertained the guests with their innovative and blessed talents. The last part of the cultural event was a skit which was presented before the guest titled as Dr. Kerper by Mr. Stany Rodrigues, Mr. Santhosh Pinto, Mr. Brazil Gomes, and Mr. Remigius Lobo of Belthangady who is currently in UK and popularly known as a Konkani Writer by name Mr.R.L.Belthanday along with Master Shaun Pinto and Master.Raul Franklin Pereira. 

The entire dais and back stage activities were coordinated by Mr. Ivan Coelho from London and Mr. Anthony Vinesh Coelho from Sunderland UK. Mr. Brazil Gomes & Konkanifriends.com covered the entire days Photography and Videography.

Mr. Ronald Lobo carried out a fund raising event for the association in the form of auctions of items which he had specially brought for the Association a day before the event where he arrived from Mangalore to attend this programme in UK. Mr. Stany Rodrigues and Mr. Santosh Sequeira conducted the Bingo where a few prizes were awarded to the winners.

 The vote of thanks was given by Mr.Vinod Barboza. He expressed his gratitude and thanked every one who directly or indirectly supported to make the event a grand success. He gratefully expressed his special thanks to the sponsor’s people who worked behind the screen for days to make the event a very success. The special Thanks were extended to Mr. Brazil Gomes, Mr. Vincent Dias, Mr. Fredrick Gonsalves, Mrs. Monica D’Almeida and Mrs. Gracy Noronha, Mr. John Furtado and Mrs. Thelma Furtado for their monetary help.

The event was concluded with a tea followed by lau-da-te and the floor breaking bail dance. The next event which is proposed to be hosted by KCA UK will be announced in mid October. Hence all the members are requested to keep visiting the website www.kcauk.org.uk .