Media Release
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Jun 2: Sunday 25th May,2008 a most memorable day in the history of UK Konkans. UK Konkans celebrated Konkan day 2008. It had all the ingredients of fun, dance, entertainment, Konkani culture and delicious food. The programme held at the beautifully decorated Addlestone Community Hall Auditorium.
Guests were greeted by Gratian and Sheela and took them around specially laid tables consisting of Indian traditional memorabilia collected and displayed by the brother and sister pair of Ashunta and Ashok Periera.
Some of the Items on display were: Tray used for separating the dust from rice (thodpen), Earthenware pot (Kundlen), Coconut Scrapper (Kanthne), Cooking/serving Spoons (dhoy), Hanging Basket (sinken), farming cap (Kondi) Rice Strainers (Mand-kurpano) etc.
Melosa D'Souza read out a prayer followed by hymn by UK Konkans members and their children.
UK Konkans youth writer Ashunta Periera and talented Tom D'souza compered the programme
Raphael D'souza, President of UK Konkans, welcomed the guests who arrived from different parts of the UK, especially members of Mangalorean United Konkans Association (MUKA) who travelled all the way from Nottingham.
In his brief speech, he reminded the guests the history of Konkans who fled Goa to the coastal district of South Kanara to avoid the prosecution from the Maratha and Moghul rulers. He also reminded that only 200 plus Konkani Christians had survived out of 15,000 captured by Hyder Ali and paid tribute to the ancestors for their sacrifice.
Gretta , Beena and Margaret kept children busy and entertained with musical arms, passing the ring games and drawing competition.
Members of MUKA led by their president Deepak Alvares enthralled the audience with their entertaining skits.
Ashunta invited men to display their talent by separating dust from the rice using the tradition tray called ‘Thodpen'. Members of MUKA performed a breathtaking group dance.
UK Konkans members Gratian, Sheela, Eric, Alice, Beena and Harry gave a well choreographed dance performance to the tune of a melodious Konkani song.
Melwyn Vaz got all the audience on their feet during the introduction game. Finally it was Stephie's ability to make friends with the other guests and memorize their names and details, won her the first prize.
Ashunta Periera tested the teenagers with their love and affection for their parents in ‘know your parents' game; it was Melossa who answered all the questions and bagged first prize.
The Audience short listed few drawings from the number of drawings drawn by the children during the programme and Jeevan .picked up the winners and gave away the first and second prize to Melville and Glenish respectively.
The crowd was treated with a birthday cake cut by Melville who celebrated his birthday just few days ago.
Women were invited to dress their partners with saree with the crowd cheering the participants..
The guests were treated with homemade delicacies prepared by UK Konkans office bearers.
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