Media Release
Vancouver, Aug 28: Mother Mary’s Assumption feast and Indian Independence Day was recently celebrated at Immaculate Conception Parish Delta, BC Canada.
In Vancouver Canada, it was the first of its kind to celebrate this event. It was an idea conceived by Fr Saju Sebatian Karimbaniyil, assistant pastor to celebrate this event which was supported by Fr Patrick Tepoorten, pastor.
The organising committee comprised of Fr Saju, AstroDrego, Claudius Pais, Dior Drego, Desiree Nazareth, Lionel Crasto, Louella D’Penha, Norbert Cutinho and Steadwick D’Penha.
The MC for this event was Joyce D’Souza who did a great job, the photography for the event was covered by JeevanTauro and DJ Rianna Pinto played great tracks to entertain the huge crowd.
The response to this event was so overwhelming and since the capacity of the School gym was only for 400 people, tents were put outside the gym to accommodate more people.
The charity event in aid of Immaculate Conception School was supported by generous donors, advertisers, patrons, people who cooked food for free and by volunteers who helped in every step of the event beginning from selling the tickets, decorating the hall and cleaning the place after the event.
The celebration began with a mass concelebrated by ten clergy members including guest pastors from neighbouring parishes. It was a scene to watch little kids with flowers and wearing dazzling white clothes going in procession. The beginning of the mass ‘Arthi’ (welcome by oil lamps and incense) in Indian tradition was offered with ‘Bhajan’ (Indian devotional music) which brought back memories of India. A meaningful and hilarious homily by Fr Nelson Santos kept everybody awake.
The celebration continued after mass in the school gym. Fr Patrick welcomed all the guests and thanked each and every one who contributed in every which way they could. The national anthem of Canada “O Canada” and India “Jana-gana-mana” was sung by all.
The first performance was a solo traditional dance by Melanie Wan Singhe. It was followed by a group dance choreographed by Sharel Pereira and performed by AnikaKini, Faith D’Mello, KeiyonaTauro, Aditi Kini, Diora Dias, Nikita Cutinho and Jennifer Cutinho for Jai Ho and Vande Mataram. The bharatanatyam dance was performed by Alex Parapilly and narrated by his mother Beena Parapilly. Thereafter a Goan dance for a song “Mariapitache” by Kirsten Nazareth, Ashleigh Nazareth, Alyssa D’Lima, Vega D’Mello, Sharelene Lobo, Lauren Fernandes, Dillan Nazareth and Andrew Nazareth, Ethan Martin, Roger Martin, Paolo Lobo and Julio Lobo made the audience rock to the tune.
The spectacular performances were followed by a sumptuous dinner cooked by Lionel Crasto, Keith D’Costa, Monica Swami, Soni, Simon Abraham, Shanthi Dias, Lata Ullatikulam, Somani Chellat, Beenu Oarapilly, Ruby, Judy Cutinho, Kenneth Martin, Gordon Martin, Jain Kudiyate, Noel and Mina Henriques. There was a variety of dishes including fish currey, pork vindaloo, butter chicken and idli. Laddoos and paysam was served for dessert. Lionel worked so hard to supervise, guide and serve food for such a big gathering.
After dinner Steadwick D’ Penha and his granddaughter Sophia sang a beautiful thanksgiving song. This was followed by a fantastic slide presentation prepared by Jennifer Cutinho about Indian Independence Day struggle, heroes of this struggle, about Indian demography and geography, the achievements, culture, diversity etc. The funny part of Indian slides presentation was prepared by Dior Drego.
This summed up the event with rocking music by the DJ.