UK Konkans celebrated their annual Christmas party and 10th Anniversary in great style and pomp on 14 Dec 2014 at Addlestone Community Centre on 14 Dec 2014. It was a momentous day for UK Konkans and a grand event was organized to share the joy of Christmas and celebrate UK Konkans 10th anniversary.
Traditional breakfast of Ambade and dal wadas was served to the early arrivals. The event began with singing of Christmas carols by the young children. It was a great start to the Christmas celebrations.
Alice D’Souza, UK Konkans’ secretary welcomed the gathering and introduced the Masters of Ceremony Tom D’Souza and Shanti Menezes who led the entire event and did a fabulous job keeping the event crisp as well as smooth flowing and entertaining.
The kids then performed the traditional Christmas tableau depicting the nativity of our Lord. Some of the kids from the audience volunteered to be shepherds and were invited to be an integral part of the tableau. The tableau was directed by Beena D’Souza.
The 10th anniversary celebration was introduced by Kevin Madtha who provided a brief history of the organisation, its current role and introduced the current office bearers. As it was the 10th anniversary all the previous presidents of UK Konkans were invited. Valerian Alva, first President and Eric D’Souza, third President were felicitated and gratitude was shown to those who could not make it.
Gratian D’Silva and Melwyn Vaz were acknowledged and recognised for their valuable contributions to UK Konkans over the past decade.
As a mark of successfully completing ten years celebratory champagne was distributed for ever table. It was truly a wonderful time of the event.
This was followed by an energetic bollywood dance by Tia D’Souza to the tune of Drama Queen set the audience dancing and asking for more.
On their 10th anniversary UK Konkans decided to felicitate Richard Lobo and his wife Christine with a special achievement award recognising the contributions that they have made to the Mangalorean community in UK. Mr Lobo said that Mangaloreans are a small community in the UK and stressed on the need to be united.
As the year before Thomas Dsouza made special appeal to raise money for Seon Ashram in Belthangady, Karnataka, a charity that provides care of psychiatric patients, the aged and the education of poor children. UK Konkans organizing committee arranged this through sale of Homemade Traditional Kuswar. More details of this charitable organisation can be found here.
Speeches and felicitations done, it was time to kick off the cultural entertainment. Cimona and Diyona danced beautifully to a traditional fisherwoman song.
All kids under 7 were called onto the stage and they danced merrily to the tune of Happy by Pharell Williams. They were rewarded with chocolate for their excellent moves.
The adults were then entertained by a beautiful and well choreographed dance by Beena, Shanti, Ruma, Sheela and Charlotte to the tune of Aika Dajiba. This got the audience to their feet asking for more. The ladies then came down from the stage to the dance floor and then invited the attendees onto the floor to dance to the well-known chartbusters played by the DJ Eric.
After lots of dancing it was time for lunch. Arun led the grace before meals after which a buffet with Pork Sorpotel, chicken curry, veg Korma, chicken fry, was thoroughly enjoyed by the guests. The guests were entertained during lunch time by a beautiful violin rendition of the First Noel and the little town of Bethlehem by Kelly. Eric Dsouza, Valerian Alva and Loreen Quadros sang English and Konkani songs which the crowds really enjoyed.
Post lunch, guest were amused and entertained by a skit presented by Tom D’Souza and Eric D’Souza. Santa made his grand appearance and got the kiddies screaming in glee. They all danced around him and then Santa had a gift and sweets for every kid.
A bollywood medley was performed by Gratian , Sheila, Kevin , Mini , Eric, Alice, Charlotte, Savio, Jyoti and Beena. They dance to famous songs from each decade of bollywood. This was followed by the best dressed competition. There was so much enthusiasm in the audience that even though only around 20 had registered to take part over 50 people showed up for the competition. They modelled their clothes on a catwalk to the tune of Om Shanti Om.
It was then time to distribute the prizes for the day and also take lots for the raffle gift hamper. There were winners all around with the massive gift hamper won by Richard Menezes. There were other follow on prizes distributed including prizes for spot games. The best dressed competition was won by Jyoti Gonsalves for her Spanish Flamingo dress.
The afternoon went by very quickly as everyone was enjoying themselves to the fullest. It was soon time to wrap up the celebrations with a vote of thanks proposed by Sheela D’Silva.
We would specially thank our main sponsor. Mr Ronald Colaco, and co sponsors Mr and Mrs Lobo, Mr. Prasad Shetty from Wales Mercedes for their contributions. We are also thankful to all those who have sponsored in kind through gifts and other items including wine, champagne, costume and raffle gifts.
Special thanks also go to all our guest who helped in the cleaning and clear up of the hall.
The organizing committee wishes all members & their families and the rest a MERRY CHRISTMAS and A HAPPY, HEALTHY and PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR 2015.
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