Report & Pics: Wilson Saldanha Shirthady/Kuwait
Daijiworld Media Network - Kuwait

Kuwait, Sep 12: Abbasiya Families, Konkani Community, Kuwait of St Daniel Comboni Parish, Abbassiya celebrated the feast of nativity on Friday September 11 at Integrated Indian School premises.

The programme started with general welcome by Deepak Andrade and Ines Martis. The statue of Mother Mary was brought in a procession to the stage by Gurkars of the day Lancy Mendonca and Shanthi Lobo along with paddy grain and dates. Children carrying fresh flowers along with parish priest Fr John, Fr Noel Almeida, Fr Antony Lopez, visiting priests Fr Claud Mascarenhas, Fr Franklin D'souza and Deacon Sylvester D’Souza went on procession to the Altar. Hymns were sung by the choir members lead by Konkani’s Golden Voice Ronny D’Cunha and Jasmine D’Cunha.

Flowers were offered and showered by a record number of kids in a very traditional way. After the feast message from Parish Priest Fr John Padipurackal, Mass in Konkani was offered during the celebration. Mangalore’s harvest Paddy grain was blessed during mass and distributed to the gathered. Children were overwhelmed with rarely seen ‘sugarcane’ (Kobu) which gave complete enjoyment and excitement of feast. Fr Noel Welcomed the gathered.

A short skit on Mother was the attraction of the day. After the grace before meal by Fr Franklin D'souza, Ronny Fernandes invited everyone to have blessed traditional vegetarian dinner in Mangalorean traditional way by offering water in ‘Chembu’. There were a row of entertainment programmes like dances, hymns, songs, games, spot prizes etc while the guests were served the traditional feast dinner prepared by M & M caterers on Banana leaves which was appreciated by every one for its unique taste with typical Mangalurean flavour. The programme was well compered by Deepak Andrade and Ines Martis.