Media Release
Manchester (UK), Sep 15: KCAUK celebrated the feast of nativity, on September 10 at the Jain Community Centre Stockport Road, Longsight, Manchester.
The Mangalorean Konkani speaking families from different parts of UK gathered at Manchester to collectively venerate Mother Mary by following the same culture and tradition as being followed back home in Mangalore, India.
Arshiya Pereira gave a brief introduction about the feast of Nativity. Fr William Menezes, the PRO of the Mangalore diocese blessed the new corn. Children showered the flowers to mother Mary in enthusiasm and in excitement to the hymn “Morieak Hogalxieam” sung by the guests. Their rhythm and sequence was further uplifted by the melodious choir team of KCAUK led by Stany Mendonca which was later followed by a Holy Mass.
The first reading was by Jyothi Mendonca and the second by Renny Buthello. The homily was given by Fr William Menezes. The prayers of the faithful were read by Reshma Lobo, Laveena Monis, Laveena Ivy Castelino, Lainet Pinto, Anita D’Silva, Evet Pinto and Reena Rodrigues. The Eucharistic celebration was elated by the choir team and by the melodious music of Sujith Rodrigues and Joe Andrade.
After the holy mass James Ravi Pinto and the master of ceremony Stany Mendonca did the introduction to the cultural activities through a skit. Richard D'Silva arranged and served soft drinks to all the guests. Secretary of KCA-UK Vinod Barboza extended his warm welcome to all the guests, soon after this Dorothy Prakash from Nottingham performed the welcome dance.
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. This was followed by a series of entertaining events which included Kungfu dance from KCA UK Kids, a group dance by the kids who had arrived from Sunderland UK, hilarious stand up comedy in Konkani by Joshua Pinto and Chris Joy Rodrigues Nottingham, dance by Fiona and Rihana D’Silva from Birmingham, Solo singing by Ansuya Gomes from Bristol, Melisha Barboza from Manchester and Sunil D’Cunha from Masefield. Bollywood dance ‘Senorita’ and semi-folk dance on fish market was performed by KCA UK members. All the guests enjoyed the fun filled entertainment as well as appreciated the efforts.
Traditional meal with seven different types of delicious vegetables, including Sanna, Rice and Orn were prepared by KCA UK members thanks to Anthony Mary, Arshiya Periera, Reshma Lobo, Reena Rodrigues, Lainet Pinto, Diana Lobo, Marina Monis, Evet Pinto, Diana Monis, Renny Bhutello and Charlotte Barboza for the hard work put in to prepare the food. The food was later served on Shiroti (banana leaves) to the KCAUK guests. Thanks to Ravi Pinto for the Shiroti. KCAUK specially thanked Martin Saldanha, Alwyn Bhutello, Cyril Pinto, Kenneth Desa and their team for their planning and co-ordination to serve the food for all guest in time. KCA UK also thanked all the people who helped them in serving the food with traditional dress (Mondu-Byras, white shirt and mundas on head).
After the lunch, cultural activities continued with outstanding ‘Dandia’ performance by guest who had come from Sunderland UK. This is followed by some amazing individual dances from Miss Rihana Buthello –Manchester, Miss Rachel D’Silva- Birmingham and Miss Sonal Mendonca from Sunderland.
Koankani Solo Singing from Stany Mendonca and Lavian Pinto from Nottingham. Dance performances from Arshiya Periera and Anthony Mary – Manchester and Sunitha D’Silva and Dorothy Prakash also entertained the guest. Various skits from KCAUK members further entertained the guests.
The back stage activities were coordinated by Anthony Vinesh Coelho from Sunderland and Vincent Dias from Manchester. Ronald Lobo and Alwyn Butello were key personnel in design and decoration of the stage. Brazil Gomes, Raj Periera and Santhosh Sequiera covered the entire days Photography and Videography. Santhosh Pinto – Manchester was in complete control of sound system and Music throughout the event.
Ronald Lobo carried out a fund raising event for the association in the form of auctions of items prepared by Renny Buthello and family from Manchester. Kenneth Ruban D’sa and Santosh Sequeira conducted the Bingo and prizes were awarded to the winners. Stany Rodrigues – KCA UK President introduced Andrew Noronha who took the initiative of restructuring the existing KCAUK website and also thanked Raj Pereira who took the initiative of initially developing the website for KCAUK.
The vote of thanks was given by KCAUK vice-president Rai Pereira. He expressed his gratitude and thanked everyone who directly or indirectly supported to make the event a grand success. KCAUK gratefully expresses special thanks to the sponsors and people who worked behind the screen for days to make the event a grand success. The special thanks were extended to Santhosh Pinto Manchester, Joseph Andrade Manchester, and Shailesh Rego Cambridge. Joy Pinto – Nottingham, and Mervin Maria Pereira – Leicester, and Mudaliar Nottingham, And Moly Rego Sunderland, Vincent Dias-Manchester Brazil Gomes-Bristol, John Furtado and Thelma Furtado Sunderland, Laveena Castelino- Manchester, Herman Judith Vyland, Arun Pramila Pinto , Stany Jyothi Mendonca from Sunderland, Fredrick Molly Rego and Kenny and Laveena D’Sa- Hereford for their generous financial help.
The whole event was sequenced and brilliantly hosted by Stany Mendonca from Sunderland. The event concluded with a tea at scheduled 5 pm. More than 150 people including kids and teenagers were actively participated in this family event. The event was concluded with a tea followed by lau-da-te and the floor breaking baila dance.