Media Release
Mangaluru, Sep 1: The Young Catholic Students (YCS) of Derebail Parish celebrated Konkani Manyatha Diwas on 31 August,2025 with great enthusiasm and pride, showcasing their love and respect for the Konkani language and culture. The event witnessed vibrant participation and drew a large crowd from the parish community.
The program commenced with a colorful procession that marked the beginning of the celebrations, as the chief guest Fr Joseph Martis, the parish priest and guest of honour Fr Wilson Tauro, OCD, assistant parish priest Fr Nelson Peris, Br Augustine, PPC vice - president, Sheela D’Souza and PPC secretary Denzil Pinto were escorted by YCS members and animators under traditional umbrellas, and were warmly welcomed with the symbolic “Paan-Pod Udhak”.
The significance of the Konkani flag was highlighted and a song celebrating the language's heritage was sung, adding to the cultural spirit of the event. In a moment of solemn respect for the repose of the soul of Eric Ozario — a stalwart who dedicated his life to the promotion of the Konkani language — silence was observed.
The formal inauguration of the program took place with the breaking of a coconut, symbolizing purity and blessing, by the chief guests.
Adding vibrancy to the event, the YCS members performed traditional Konkani Baila dances, which energized the audience and highlighted the rich cultural traditions of the community.
Addressing the gathering, Fr Joseph Martis spoke on the importance of preserving and promoting Konkani language. He emphasized that the language lives through its speakers and encouraged the youth and children to take pride in using Konkani language in daily life.
To further lift the spirits, the YCS members performed a melodious Mando trained by Anil Patrao, capturing the emotional essence and lyrical beauty of Konkani music.
Avinash D'Souza ably compered the programme, while also highlighting the beauty and cultural significance of the Konkani language.
The YCS animators- Gladson Monteiro, Rohan Monis, Lenn Sequeira, Primal Furtado and Jonita Monteiro were also present.
The event concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks, marking the end of a meaningful and culturally rich celebration.