Pics: Stanly Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Aug 31: Konkani music legend and tireless crusader, Vishwa Konkani Kala Ratna Eric Ozario, was laid to rest on Saturday with police honours and heartfelt musical tributes from admirers, artists, and well-wishers.
The funeral mass was held in the morning at St Vincent Ferrer Church, Valencia, where hundreds of eminent personalities from the religious, cultural, and musical spheres participated in the solemn ceremony.
Following the mass, the state honour ceremony was conducted by Dakshina Kannada district-in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, MLC Ivan D’Souza, Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy president Stany Alvares, and other dignitaries.
Later, at Kalaangann in Shaktinagar — Eric Ozario’s karmabhoomi — admirers gathered in large numbers to bid a final farewell. Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta, MLC Manjunath Bhandary, former MLA J R Lobo, progressive thinker Narendra Nayak, CPI(M) leader Sunil Kumar Bajal, and many others paid their tributes. On this occasion, the Mother Teresa Band from Honnavar, along with Kalaangann musicians, offered a soulful Sangeetanjali in Eric’s memory.
Mandd Sobhann president Louis J Pinto, addressing the gathering, announced that in honour of Eric Ozario, a 12-day, 12-hour and 12-minute long non-stop musical programme will soon be organized at Kalaangann.
Finally, Eric’s mortal remains were taken in a procession to Boloor Electric Crematorium, where the last rites were performed amidst emotional farewells.