Muscat Pangalites Annual get-together and Pangla fest celebration.
By Clarence Pinto, Muscat
Pics Dilip Correa, Muscat
Daijiworld Media Network
Muscat, Nov 24: It was a brilliant and enjoyable celebration of one of the renowned parishes of Mangalore diocese, parish famous for its jasmine flowers. Parishioners of this parish are scattered all over the world in search of better prospects of green pasture, do remember their native parish with great reverence by conducting various activities and brotherly get-together functions. Pangla Fest, a festival of the parish is also one of the great occasions for parishioners to meet and greet each other to share a smile.
In continuation of their tradition, Muscat Pangalites under the able leadership of their new President, Jerry Rodrigues celebrated Eleventh Annual Meet & Greet Function and Pangla fest in a great festive mood on Thursday, 22nd November 2007 at the Arsalan (Alwyn’s famous Udupi Restaurant) Hall, Al Wadi Al Kabir, Muscat.
The celebration commenced at 9.45 p. m with an introductory speech by Henry G. Martis, a renowned personality of the Mangalorean Community in Muscat. Henry Martis is known to the Mangalorean Community as Dakleancho Rai (King of Records) and Panglacho Kollo (Jasmine of Pangla) for his great leadership qualities and love to his mother tongue – Konkani. He specifically expressed the significance of the joyful get-together of Pangalites in Muscat and reminding them of their Pangla Parish festival back home with their friends and relatives. He requested the parishioners residing in Muscat to unite and help to raise the charitable funds for various projects of their beloved Pangla Parish. In a special way, he expressed his gratitude to all the sponsors and benefactors who have supported Panglaso Prakash, a Church Bulletin. The recent Panglaso Prakash issue released on the auspicious occasion of the Mother of perpetual succor feast was sponsored by Parishioners of Pangla residing in Muscat.
Fr. Albert D’Silva, Mangalorean priest of the Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Ruwi offered the prayers, thanking Heavenly Father for the abundant blessings and graces showered on all the Muscat Pangalites for the past eleven years and seeking protection for the future. A hearty welcome was unfolded by Jerry Rodrigues, the current president of Muscat Pangalites. Jerry is one of the stalwarts of the Pangla Community in Muscat, serving for Country’s National carrier, Oman Air for the last 31 years in a senior position.. In his address, he offered grateful tributes Fr. Vincent Monteiro, the founder of Muscat Pangalite, former parish priest Fr. Alexander Lobo and the current parish priest Fr. Harold C. D’Souza for their constant and wholehearted support to Muscat Pangalities.
The chief Guest Rev Fr. Albert D’Silva was presented with a floral bouquet by baby Avelen D’Souza. Konkani Kala Rathn Eric Ozario, renowned Konkani composer and activist from Mangalore was present during the function and welcomed by baby Caroline D’Souza. Leena Vaz, A senior citizen and mother of one of Pangalities committee member Lucy D’Souza, who visited Muscat to witness this program, was presented with floral bouquet by baba Calvin Machado. Clifford Sanctis, a prominent business personality of Muscat, was present during the function and was presented with a bouquet by baby Vanessa.
In his speech, Chief Guest the function Fr. Albert D’Silva appreciated Pangalities for organizing the programs to bring the parishioners under one banner and doing a noble service to the Pangla parish. The guest of honour Eric Ozario spoke about his mission to find a place for Konkani in the Guinness world of records named as “KONKANI NIRANTARI” and requested all Mangalorens to support this noble cause.
Meval Dantis, son of Valerian and Monica Dantis, known Young Music Prodigy of the Mangalorean Community was honored for his contribution to the community and appreciation on his successful completion of Grade 8 in Keyboard examination from one of the renowned institutions in Europe.
A message of gratitude sent for the occasion by the current parish priest of Pangla Fr. Harold C D’Souza thanking all the Pangalities for their unity and support to the parish, was presented by Lucy D’Souza. She also thanked all the supporters and expressed gratitude to each and everyone who made the occasion a great success. Special word of gratitude was expressed to Clifford Sanctis of Hydrotec and Alwyn Saldana of Asrsalan Restaurant, and all committee members for sponsoring prizes.
The awaiting surprise was Santa Claus who made a entry into the programme in the Christmas spirit enthralling the children and adults to announce that Christmas season is approaching with a message of love and harmony. Richard Mendonca presented this event in a mind-blowing way.
The evening was full of fun and frolic, games and dances, housie-housie, and other entertainments. The dance was presented by baby Vrinali Nazareth, a well known child dancer in Muscat who won many prizes in the Mangalorean Catholics Center’s competitions. There were also attractive prizes for the spot answers to the brain trickling shot at the audience in regular intervals .
Eric Ozario presented some scintillating Konkani numbers to add joyful melody into the minds and hearts of audience. He was ably supported by Monica Dantis in singing and Meval Dantis in music.
Sumptuous dinner with typical Mangalorean dishes was served to delight all the guests by Arsalan’s Alwyn Saldhana.
The anchors of the program were Henry G Martis, Suraj Rebello who gave brilliant performances in the presentations and was ably supported by Nelson D’silva, prominent Toastmaster of Muscat.
A word of appreciation should go to the honourable committee members of Muscat Pangalites Jerry Rodrigues, Victor Nazreth, Arun D’Souza, Vinay Nazreth, Jerry Castelino, Sunitha Nazareth, Lucy D’Souza and Henry Martis.
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