Report: Mohammed Nooman
Dammam, Dec 13: On a fabulous Friday afternoon, Mangalore Association of Saudi Arabia (MASA) conducted their annual food festival at Aziziah Farm House. Ravi Karkera addressed the gathering and the event was inaugurated by president Narendra Shetty in the presence of ex-committee members and advisory committee members.
As the saying goes "One cannot think well, love well, and sleep well, if one has not dined well", members and guests discovered a great selection of delicious Mangalurean traditional food along with varieties of mouthwatering snacks lined up in food stalls of MASA members. The venue offered not only ethnic Mangalurean food but fabulous entertainment and fun for all.
MASA conducts food festival every year where its members cook food at their home and sell it in the well arranged and colorfully decoratedstalls provided by MASA. Awards are given to Best Food Stall (main course), Best Snacks Stall and Most Hygienic Stall.
Food festivals have always been a means of uniting communities and countries, through celebrations of harvests and giving thanks for a plentiful growing season. As such people from different parts of India and neighboring countries like Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and even from Arab countries have participated and enjoyed the event fully.
There were 8 food stalls, including one serving delicious snacks (chats), and other than food stalls there were pan stall, toys stall, boutique, ring game and sing along stalls as listed below:
1. 'Tammana' by Praveena S Shetty and Group
2. 'MBBS - 5' (Mathias and Brothers Barbeque Stall) by Stany Ivy Mathias
3. 'Namma Kudla' by Kitty Group Dammam c/o Padmanabh Pai
4. 'NammaIllada Ruchi' by NayanaSagar Kumar and Team
5. 'Mumbai Chat House' by Chetana Poojary and Team
6. 'Mumbai Food Court' by Chetana Poojary and Team
7. 'Ammi’s Kitchen' by Mohammed Hussain Shirva and Team
8. 'Coastal Bite' by Sarita Aranha and Team
9. 'Sunday Boutique' by Shilpa Prakash and Sumithra Pradeep
10. 'Namma Kudla Toys' by Kitty Group Dammam c/o Padmanabh Pai
11. 'MASA Ring Game' by Ravi Karkera
12. 'MASA Juke Box / Karaoke Stand' by Mohammed Nooman
13. 'Sheetal Pan Stall' by Naveen Vijay Kundapura
Guests enjoyed varieties of traditional Mangalurean cuisine such as kori rotti, moode, neerdose, pundi, idli, patree, jenji sukka, pundi marvai, kori sukka, pathrode, fish fry, prawns and crab pullimunchi, chicken sukka, kadle manoli, sambaar, rice, along with all varieties of biriyanis, grills, kababs, tikkas and many more, including fried rice and Chinese food in main course. Different kinds of payasa, fruit salad and sweets were served as desserts, and among snacks there were bhel puri, pani puri, dahi batata sev puri, biscuit rotti, golibaje, mangalore buns, sajjige bajil, masala dosa, alakayida/manjalda/tondoligeda/tarayida gatti, naiyappa, kashi halwa, kesaribaath, vada, charmuri, omlette, etc were available. As beverages majjige, falooda, lassi, ice gola, water, juices, lime soda, tea and coffee were served.
Adults and kids equally enjoyed shopping at boutique where varieties of fancy items and dresses were available speciallyfor ladies, toys stall had a good deal for kids with selection of toys while many tried their luck in Ring Game and others entertained the audience by singing their favorite tracks. Ring Game and Karaoke stand were put-up by MASA management and all the revenue generated out of that added to MASA charity fund.
Guests and members had chance to participate in raffle draw which had 11 exciting prizes. Guessing and other surprise games were conducted and giftswere given to the winners.
While keeping up with the traditional food, Entertainment committee head Gopal Shetty made sure to have a traditional entertaining Mangalurean game 'Taraida Katta' and which attracted huge crowds from all age groups, the final winner emerged with 17 bounties against single coconut was Narendra Shetty and second place won by Jagajeevan Ram with 9 bounties. Altogether it was a festive atmosphere all around.
The sponsors for this gala event were: Joey Fernandes (Al Manafa Transport Services), Richard D’Silva (Arabian Cargo Services Co), Yogeesh Poojary (SASP), Madhav Amin, Ravi Karkera, DayanandShriyan,Naveen Bhandary, SagarKumar (BMC) Prakash Shetty and Group, and other well-wishers.
Visitors appreciated the efforts of MASA Members and volunteers in conducting the event in a most professional way with feel of home away from home.
During the closing ceremony, president Narendra Shetty announced the winners of food festival contest:
Best Food (main course) award was won by Tammana, runner-ups were MBBS-5 and Namma Kudla respectively.
Best Snacks award was won by Namma Kudla, runner-ups were NammaIllada Ruchi and Tammana respectively.
Best hygienic stall award was won by Nammaillada Ruchi, runner-ups were Mumbai Chat House and Coastal Bite respectively.
The judges for the event were Ahmed Gulam Beary, Usman Hosangadi, Sunil Putran, Joey Fernandes, Yogesh Poojary and Mrs Richard D’Silva.
The president thanked all the participants, guests, members and volunteers with an invitation to all members and guests to join the 9th MASA Annual Day celebration to be held on January 29, 2016.
MASA Food Festival 'Savi Ruchi 2015' ended on a memorable note, with its motto to entertain its members in the most delightful refreshing way.