Qatar: ’Mangalorean Day’ celebrated

Qatar: ’Mangalorean Day’ celebrated

Mangalore Today News Network

Doha Nov 22, 2010: Enthused by its hugely successful  ’Mangalorean Day’  celebrated over the last 2 years, Mangalore Cricket Club (MCC), Qatar, organized the 3rd  ’Mangalorean Day’ on Friday, November 19, 2010 at the old Ideal Indian School grounds.  It was a family day of games, music, dance, food and fun galore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The evening began with sports events for all age groups at 3.30 p.m.  While the children and youth had events such as ’Goody race, frog race, hopping races, and the sack race, the ’young at heart’ participated in walking forward/backward race, spoon & marble race and book balance race while the couples had the banana race and lastly the medley family relay of 4 wherein if a family was short of a son or daughter to make a complete family they could borrow other children and participate.

While the games were ongoing the homemade Mangalorean and non-Mangalorean delicacies such as Goli Baje, Chattambade, buns, Pakodas,  Bhelpuri , Kombiechi  Roce Kodi, Kori Sukka, Chicken & Mutton Stew,  Butter Chicken, Beef Chilli,  Biryani,  Pulao, Chicken Fry,  Shawarma, Sanna,  Appam,  Shevyo, Panpale ,  Kheer,  Falooda,  and much more,   which were specially prepared by generous Mangalorean community members,  were available in the food stalls.

The cultural program began with the prayer song by Eddie Sequeira & Group from his composition. This was followed by the welcome dance which was a Bharatnatyamperformance by Anusha D’Souza & Tanya Lobo.


Sunil D’Silva, the Vice President, welcomed the audience and requested all  Mangaloreans to continue to promote Konkani language and the rich culture by partaking in all activities promoted by MCC.  He requested all to come forward and use this platform to showcase their talents and urged to continue the rich legacy so that the younger generation can take pride to promote our culture. He extended the 1st World Konkani Convention invitation to the community received from Mandd Sobhann’ and to be part of the Qatar Day nominated on December 7th, 2010.  He proudly announced that Mr. Jerald D’Mello, Founder Member of MCC, has been nominated as the Raibaari representing the Konkani Speaking Community of Qatar for the service he rendered to promote Konkanni in Qatar through MCC.  Among the 25 organisations worldwide to be felicitated by Hon’ble President of India Her Excellency Smt. Prathiba Patil on December 9th 2010 on ’Konkani Ekata Divas’ MCC is proud to be one.  MCC President Richard D Souza will be receiving the honour for and on behalf of MCC from Her Excellency the President of India.

The chief guest of the evening was Rev. Fr. Anand Castelino, Spiritual Director of Konkani Speaking Community of our Lady of our Rosary Church, Qatar.  He too urged in his address to the gathering to promote the Konkani language and try to attend such gatherings and mingle with people and build up the unity among Konkani people.

The special attraction of the evening was the ’Smart Boy’ & ’Smart Girl ’contest for the young boys and girls in the age groups of 8 to 12 years.  It was a delight for those present to watch the participants parade on stage in their colorful costumes and listen to their introduction.  The judges Ronnie Fernandes & Riyana D’Souza asked a question to each of the participants to test their self confidence.  The winners of the contests were:

Smart Boy: Ridge Dias
Smart Girl: Clarina Pinto

This segment of the evening was compeered by Prafulla Sequeira.

While little children danced to the tunes of ’Dainabai Kuznaath Nastha’, the adults entertained the crowd with some melodious songs. 

Preema Pinto, the Runner up in the just concluded Gulf Voice of Mangalore (GVOM) presented a solo number ’Gaitheli Gaitheli’ from Late Wilfy Rebimbus’ compositions. Preema also sang the duet ’Hey chedva’ with her equally gifted husband Naveen to the appreciation of the enthusiastic crowd. Preema thanked MCC and all the Mangaloreans in Qatar for their constant support and best wishes on her journey to GVOM finals and on winning the coveted Runner up title.

 The husband & wife couple of Remy & Namitha D’Souza sang Remy’s own composition "Aaz mon muje" which was well received by the audience. A group song ’Laamb Jiyom MCC’, again a composition of Remy D’Souza, exalting MCC for all its good deeds, was presented by  MCC’s  GVOM   participants, Remy D’Souza, Naveen Pinto, Preema Pinto, Eva Wilma Pinto, Jovita Pereira, Sunita Tellis and Premila Monteiro.  The Club’s immediate past President Alwyn D’Souza regaled the audience with the solo number ’Raat zalia raat’ from the movie ’Padri’.  The group song ’Tarnati praai baba amchi’, a Mike Simon composition, was presented by some naughty, young and not so young men of Doha. led  by Alwyn D’Souza, the group included Patrick D’Souza, Santhosh Fernandes, Roshan Pinto, Errol D’Cunha and  Eddie Sequeira.

The all Mangalorean band of Musicians on stage were Remy D’Souza on Rhythm Guitar, Kiran Dias on Base Guitar, Kenrick Fernandes, Glen Patrao & Josslyn D’Mello on Keyboards. The rib tickling Konkani comedy skit Lorsu’s Laat Poot Recruitment Agency written & directed by Bonaventure D’Souza and enacted by Ronald Rodrigues, Alwyn D’Souza, Roshan Pinto, Santosh Fernandes, Jennifer Fernandes and Emilia Castelino had the audience in peels of laughter.

A dance number by husband and wife couple of Jyothi & Sandeep Noronha to the tune of Charbelle Chede was indeed a rare item to be witnessed.

The icing on  the cake was the  glamorous  fashion parade East meets West by MCC’s budding  stars,  who mesmerised the crowd  with a  fabulous show of colorful costumes and scintillating cat walk  and stole the hearts of all those present.  The fashion show was choreographed by the young and  talented Sana Britto and the models were Rupal Aroza, Joel Pereira, Viola Pereira, Christina, Shawn, Lizelle D’Souza, Elreena Pinto, Christopher Pinto, Gaby D’Souza, Ann D’Souza, Ridge Dias, Ross Dias and Anusha D’Souza.

Patrick D’Souza and Riana Pinto, the hosts of the evening, did a wonderful job of compeering the whole show in Konkani.

Roshan Pinto, Joint Cultural Secretary proposed the vote of thanks.  The whole event was coordinated by Reena Castelino.

Prize distribution ceremony was conducted by Fredrick D’Souza, Sports Secretary. He thanked his team of volunteers Bessie D’Souza, Cyril D’Souza, Melvin Pinto & others who helped him in conducting all the sports events smoothly. Prizes to the winners of the Sports Events were given away by Chief Guest Fr. Anand Castelino, Past President Vivian D’Souza and Advisor Alfred Sequeira.

Sound and Lights were provided by Glylon Rodrigues.  A game of Bingo and Raffle draw with attractive prizes were also conducted.  The Bumper Prize of Jet Airways Return Air ticket Doha/Mumbai or Delhi/Doha or Cochin/Doha was won by Monica Glenn.

Mangalore Cricket Club wishes to thank Sabinash D’Souza , Head of Volunteers and  all his group of volunteers under his supervision, all the generous community members, food sponsors,  the sponsors Jet Airways, Air India, Sheraton Hotel and all those who have contributed towards the run-away success of the 3rd  MCC ’Mangalorean Day’ which brought together more than 500 Mangaloreans  as one BIG FAMILY.  It was indeed a Mangalorean Family Day thoroughly enjoyed by all.