Report: Koni Prakash Naik, Muscat
Pics: Naveen Kumar, Kulai
Muscat, May 21: Muscat Mogaveers (MM) organized a fun filled “Kala Mela” for its community members recently at Al Masa Hall, Ruwi/Muscat. It was a day loaded with fun and frolic, music and dance, fashion and talent shows, painting and rangoli competitions and in addition the thadka was the cooking competition which saw quite a few authentic mouth watering Mangalorean dishes prepared by the members.
As large number of MM members residing in various parts of Oman, attended the event with a feeling of oneness, fraternity and great enthusiasm. The atmosphere was quite vibrant and colourful. In order to keep the crowd at high energy levels throughout the day they were served with soft drinks, tea/coffee, snacks and sumptuous lunch.
To begin with, Prakash Naik, Koni, one of the founder members of Muscat Mogaveers, extended a warm welcome and greetings to all the community members and carried on with the anchoring of the first session of the program. The program was inaugurated by lighting the traditional lamp by five members of the lady wing, viz Anita Kotian, Naina Mendon, Sujata Lokesh, Dr Salian, and Praveena Kunder. While lighting the lamp MM children Simran Kotian, Disha Amin and Driti Kanchan along with Ashok Kotian on key-board rendered a melodious prayer song “Jaya Jaya Kula Mathey Khyate Shree Mahishasura Mardhini Mathe” seeking the blessings of Kula Mathe.
The next item of the program was to launch Muscat Mogaveers’ new logo meticulously created Prakash Naik and the logo was unveiled for the first time by Dr Shekar Salian, one of the senior and well respected members of the Mogaveera Community who is also by profession a well known physician in Muscat. During the unveiling process, Naik gave a brief description of the logo particularly highlighting the theme of the logo in relevance to Mogaveera background and their civilization. Dr Salian, thereafter, addressed the gathering conveying his greetings and best wishes to all the community members, their families and his sincere appreciation and thanks to all those who were instrumental in organizing Muscat Mogaveera programs for all these years in Oman, so as to preserve our cultural heritage and traditions.
The second half of the program kicked off with an electrifying fusion dance performed by as many as 22 children. It was a delightful treat to watch those young children performing on stage with such ease and grace. The audience enjoyed every moment of it. Hats-off to the kids, their parents and the choreographer for putting up such a mesmerizing show. The event was co-ordinated by Arathi Ravi Kanchan.
This was followed by yet another scintillating show “the fashion show” presented by some charming couples from the community. The show turned out to be not only spectacular, but also “sone pe suhaga (icing on the cake) which was well received by all.
After some eye catching entertainment programs it was now time for some brain storming exercise and the art and painting competitions began with a lot of hidden ideas for display. On one side while the judges were tasting and testing the culinary skills of our members who had prepared some delicious traditional Mangalorean dishes as part of the cooking competition, on the other side children and ladies were busy drawing and painting their favourite creations with an ultimate aim to impress upon the judges.
While competitions were in full swing, Prakash Naik and Ashok Kotian entertained the crowd by singing some melodious songs in Kannada / Hindi of yesteryears which were enjoyed by one and all.
Naina Mendon and Sujata Lokesh systematically compered the whole programme in co-ordination with Anita Kotian and other executive committee members.
It was also an opportune time for the MM Committee to felicitate Harish Kotian, one of the senior executive members, who celebrated his silver wedding anniversary recently. On this happy occasion Harish Kotian and Vasanthi Harish Kotian were honoured with a fruit basket, a shawl and a memento in the company of their son Hitesh Harish Kotian by Dr Shekar Salian along with other committee members. Harish Kotian’s daughter, Vineeta Kotian couldn’t attend as she was busy with her higher studies in India.
At around 1 pm a sumptuous three course lunch with variety of mouth watering dishes was served to all members. After taking some rest, few of the enthusiastic members couldn’t resist exploring the dance floor so as to exhibit their dancing skills in their own inimitable style to the tune of DJ Lancy, so as to impress their loved ones.
The evening concluded with distribution of prizes to winners of respective competitions, distribution of gifts to all children who participated in dance performances / talent shows as a gesture of encouragement and at the end with a game of Tambola. Naveen Kumar, Kulai, proposed the vote of thanks.
Prizes
Cooking competition : Devaki Suresh Kunder (I prize)
Shobha Pramod (II prize)
Roopa Umesh (III prize)
Drawing/painting : Disha Devanand Amin (I prize)
(Above 10 years of age) Simran Tharanath Kotian (II prize)
(Below 10 years of age) : Anuj Umesh (I prize)
Harshil Padmakar (II prize)
Rangoli competition : Anitha Govardhan (I prize)
Kushi Ashok (II prize)
Vidya Shashi Puthran (III prize)