The Managing Committee of Karnataka Social Club, Bahrain under the Presidentship of Mr.Vincent Sequeira, organised the Feast of Nativity of our Lady at the Club premises on Thursday, 11th with a unique Nativity white and light blue ambience, with DJ Francis spinning devotional songs dedicated to Mother Mary. The Main Nativity Altar was draped gracefully with flowing white and blue linen depicting gracefully the birth of our Lady.

At the outset, the Entertainment Secretary, Millard Rodriques, welcomed the audience eagerly awaiting the traditional Nativity celebrations to commence at 9.00p.m. upon the arrival of revered Chief Guests, Fr. Freddy D’Souza from Sacred Heart Church and visiting Priest , Fr. Rithesh Rodrigues from Mangalore.

The brief Liturgical program in Konkani was anchored by popular MC, Mr. Hillary Tellis who welcomed the Chief Guests. The Contributors ,to state in Konkani, Festhacho Pirjenth Mr Simon Machado anim Mud-dhom , came forward in procession offering baskets of fresh produce viz. vegetables at the Nativity Altar of our Lady. Fr. Freddy distributed blessed candles to each one of the Pirjenth and Mud-dhom on behalf of the Club, in a thankful gesture for their generosity for the festive occasion. It was time then for the Club’s Choir Group to sing “Sakkad Sangatha Mellyaan”, with a touch of traditional festive nostalgia as the Members’ children colourfully dressed and beaming with love to pay tributes to our Lady’s cradle, marched in procession to and around the Nativity Altar offering showers of floral tributes. Fr. Freddy and Fr. Rithesh thereafter conveyed their prayerful Festive message to the audience followed by the Club’s President, Mr. Vincent Sequeira who thanked the revered Chief Guests, Contributers and the audience for their support and presence in adding a touch of their own to the program.

The embolden family spirit and devotion to our Lady was quite evident. The traditional blessed “Novem” coconut-jaggery-mix juice laced and blended with tender paddy-corn seeds, the first harvested fruit of our Lord’s bounty, was served customarily to all present.Sugarcane was distributed to all the children who participated in the floral offerings. We could see some elders too who picked up a few of the sugarcane pieces cravingly, perhaps to make sure and test that they had not lost their touch on gnawing the tasty juicy sugarcane!

It was time for a brief cultural program on stage, organised by the Ladies Wing, with ever vibrant Bertie Rego anchoring same. A Group Dance to the tune of a Konkani divine song dedicated to the Nativity of our Lady was performed aptly by Echelle Sequira , Ayona Rodrigues , Ashel Castelino , Anika Lobo , Mishel Fernandes and Clita Tellis colourfully dressed in white and light blue, choreographed by Namitha Salian and Laurine Sequeira, enchanted the audience. A Group Song in Konkani was sung by Muriel, Reema, Vanitha, Sandra, Shanthi, Ronald and Richard was applauded by all. Another stage dance performance by Rolwyn Fenandes and Orville Sequeira choreographed by Ancil Bennis enthralled everyone.

Two humorous short Konkani skits, first one titled “Theim Mujo Musthu Mog Kartha” performed by Vinay Sequeira, Sharmila Sequeira and Arun Castelino and the second titled “Pandithachein Theen Pooth” dramatised by, Norbert Pinto ,Cletus Rodrigues and Arun September, 2014, at the Main Hall of the Club premises. The Club Hall was Fernandes , brought forth smiles and echoed peals of laughter from the gathering with the crisp punchlines.

There was a Melting Membership draw, claimed by Swebert Dantis.It was then time for Joe Andrade to anchor a brief but lively Vegetable Auction Session when the baskets of the blessed Vegetables offered earlier to our Lady’s manger was auctioned to the audience for a worthy cause with the active participation and contributions from generous Members. All proceeds realised from the Auction were handed over to Fr. Freddy D’Souza, Assistant Parish Priest, Sacred Heart Church, for the Church’s benevolent cause, who in turn delightfully thanked all. God bless all those who contributed to this cause. The Club’s General Secretary Conald Veigas lost no time in invoking names of all those who contributed to the Nativity Program and those who had worked for its success.

A sumptuous “Noveim Jovann” followed typical with dicy vegetables, boiled rice, pickle and pappad that concludes with “Vorrnn” and “Thaakh” for everyone’s palate to savour on banana leaves! Nostalgically served by volunteers and Caterers who had prepared the same meticulously for the fiesta finale..Needless to say, generous scintillating traditional music for the occasion was continuously spun, piloted by DJ Francis Lobo with members’ children making the best of dancing to it on stage to the very end.

All in all, a memorable “Monthi Festh” day spent in the right ambience and mingling family spirit of our dear Club Members and their families.