Report & Pics: Wilson Saldanha Shirthady/Kuwait

Kuwait, Sep 17: Abbasiya Families- Konkani Community, Kuwait of St Daniel Comboni Parish, Abbassiya celebrated the feast of nativity on Friday September 16 at Integrated Indian School premises.

The program started with general welcome by Deepak Andrade and Susan Saldanha. The statue of Mother Mary was brought in a procession to the stage by parishioners along with paddy grain and dates. Children carrying fresh flowers along with parish priest Fr Noel Almeida, Fr Antony Lopez, visiting priest Fr Fredrick Braggs and Deacon Sylvester D’Souza went on procession to the Altar. Hymns were sung by the choir members lead by Gulf Voice of Mangalore Morvine Quadras.

Flowers were offered and showered by a record number of kids in a very traditional way. Mass in Konkani was offered during the celebration. Mangalore’s harvest Paddy grain was blessed during mass and distributed to the gathered. Children were overwhelmed with rarely seen ‘sugarcane’ (Kobu) which gave complete enjoyment and excitement of feast. President Rony Fernandes Welcomed the gathered.

The entertainment program started with welcome dance and a presentation skit on Saint Mother Teresa. After the grace before meal by Fr Noel Almeida, Ronny Fernandes invited everyone to have blessed traditional vegetarian dinner in Mangalorean traditional way by offering water. There were a row of entertainment programs like dances, hymns, songs, comedy skits, Nonstop Baila etc while the guests were served the traditional feast dinner prepared by M & M caterers on Banana leaves which was appreciated by every one for its unique taste with typical Mangalorean flavor. Vote of thanks was proposed by Gladys Noronha. Fr. Xavier, Sr. Violet- principal of Carmel School and Sr. Gracy were among the guest of honor. The program was well compered by Deepak Andrade and Susan Saldanha.