Media Release
Bengaluru, Feb 13: Hundreds of people attended food fest ‘Konkan Karavali Utsav’ organised by Federation of Konkani Catholic Associations (FKCA) on February 10 at St Joseph's Indian High School Grounds, Vittal Mallya Road.
The food fest was organised in aid of Kodagu flood relief to build houses and rehabilitation of the flood affected victims. The said venue had various food stalls with coastal flavours both in veg and non veg, games stalls and cultural performances.
FKCA also celebrated its 22nd Annual Day at the same venue, which commenced at 4:00 pm with a Mass in Konkani celebrated by Dr Robert Michael Miranda, bishop of Gulbarga.
FKCA chairman Dr Edward Anand D'Souza welcomed the gathering and gave a brief on FKCA which has over 34 Konkani Catholic associations affiliated to it from Bengaluru, Mysusu, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Kuwait, Dubai, Abu Shabi, Oman, Canada, USA and UK.
FKCA conferred awards to three eminent personalities annually for their meritorious contributions to the society and for their exemplary services in the following fields.
This year’s awardees were:
Life-Time Achievement Award - Margaret Francis Furtado, renowned social worker.
Professional Excellence Award - Charles Lobo, IPoS, chief post master general, Karnataka division.
Entrepreneur of the Year Award - George S Fernandes, founder and managing director, St Milagres Credit Souharda Co-operative Ltd Karwar. Presently they have more than 90 branches with 800 employees.
Dr Peter Machado, Archbishop of Bangalore was present for the programme. Dr Robert Michael Miranda, bishop of Gulbarga presided over the event. Dr Henry D’Souza, bishop of Bellary was the guest of honour.
K J George, minister of Large and Medium Scale Industries was the chief guest for the programme. He mentioned that as promised during the Belgaum meeting with archbishop and other leaders’ chief minister H D Kumaraswamy announced establishment of Christian Development Corporation for the comprehensive development of the Christian community at a cost of Rs 200 crore. He mentioned that Christian community has been working selflessly for the benefit of the society as a whole.
N A Harris, MLA, Shanthinagar, was the guest of honour for the event. He said that all communities enhancing various cultures, language, religion and we as representatives of these communities are Indians under United India. We all should live like one Family. In reply to chairman request for the BDA site which they have applied and attempted 5 times he mentioned that before the next Federation Day he will ensure to get a site for FKCA.
Federation Day celebrations also included cultural programme, dance, music and DJ and food Ffest.
Fr Faustine Lucas Lobo, spiritual director of FKCA and immediate past chairman Arun Fernandes was present among other dignitaries on the dais. Lawrence Saldanha, general Secretary of FKCA read out the annual report, Robert Cutinha, vice chairman of FKCA delivered vote of thanks. The stage programme of the day was compered by Vaibhav D’Souza, Roshan Sequeira and Leena Lobo. The Karavali Utsav cultural programme was compered by Royston Pinto, Rayan Miranda and Gaywin Lasrado.