1st World Konkani Cultural Convention’s curtain raiser
Mangalore Today News Network
Dubai, August 10: The first World Konkani Cultural Convention, a mega Konkani cultural festival, will be held from Nov 25 – Dec 19 at Kalaangan, Mangalore.
Mandd Sobhann’s curtain raiser for the event, which has been a roaring success in Goa and Bangalore, will be held in Dubai on Sept 24, Friday. Verappa Moily, the union law minister, and Dr. Bernard Moras, the archbishop of Bangalore Diocese, will be the chief guests of the event. A Mandd Sobhann team under the guidance of Mr. Eric Ozerio will present a one-hour performance.
The curtain raiser event to be held in Dubai, called “Vovllik,” will be held at Banquet Hall in Dubai at 7 p.m. Representatives of Gulf countries, eminent members of the Konkani-speaking communities in the UAE, leaders of various Konkani organizations along with their spouses will be invited.
James Mendonca, the coordinator of the World Convention for the Gulf countries, said that all Konkani-speaking people are proud of this event and requested the support of Konkani speakers all over the Gulf countries.
Over 60 troupes comprising more than 1000 artists from all over the world belonging to various castes, creeds, and religions and speaking different dialects of Konkani will present attractive dance, folk, music, and theatre performances at the World Konkani Cultural Convention. The event will also include a film festival, a youth festival, a food festival, an art festival, a poetry festival, seminars, and competitions in traditional games, costumes, and cuisine.
The second Global Konkani Music Awards and sixth Kalaakar Puraskaar will be conferred on deserving candidates on this occasion. Twenty-five institutions worldwide will be honoured in recognition of their service to Konkani culture. Dignitaries from all over the world will be the chief guests and guests of honour. The inaugural ceremony will include a colorful procession and the closing ceremony will be festive.
The chief patron of the grand reception committee, which is chaired by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ronald Colaco, is Chief Minister of Goa Digamber V. Kamath.
The convention was launched in Bangalore on June 20, Sunday with Minister for Tourism and Infrastructure G. Janardhan Reddy as its chief guest. The curtain raiser in Goa was held in Margao on July 18, Friday with Chief Minister Digamber V. Kamath as the chief guest. Francisco Sardinha, the chairman of the estimation committee; Luizinho Faleiro, the former chief minister of Goa; and MLA Damodar Naik were the guests of honour.
The Mumbai curtain raiser will be held on Aug 29, Sunday. MP Oscar Fernandes and Chairman and Managing Director of Bank of Maharashtra Allen C. A. Fernandes will be the chief guests. Chief Minister of Maharashtra Ashok Chavan is also expected to participate.