News & Pics: John Peter Fernandes
Daijiworld Media Network – Nottingham (VA)
Nottingham, Aug 16: The Mangalorean United Konkani Association, (MUKA) organized its annual summer picnic to the Rutland Water Nature Reserve, Leicestershire Saturday on August 14.
Rutland Water Reserve is set on 4,200 acres of land and is Europe’s largest man -made water reserve which has a spectacular landscape.
Nearly 70 percent of Mangaloreans living in and around Nottingham participated joined the much -awaited picnic.
A coach was arranged for those traveling from Nottingham to Rutland Park, while others reached the venue in their own transport. Traveling in the coach and singing various songs all along the way reminded the participants their days of school picnic.
President of MUKA, Jeevan Menezes welcomed the gathering and Fr Olvin Veigas SJ led the group into a short prayer service.
Conrad Aranha arranged for the delicious breakfast to all the participants. Various games were organized for the young and adults. The popular children’s games entertained the little ones and made them feel at home in a diverse group. Stany Sequeira, the cultural secretary of MUKA organized the games meticulously with the assistance of Jeevan Menezes, Vincent D'Souza, Deepak Alvares, Pius Rasquinha and Anita Menezes.
The event saw some of the spectacular games being played with whole hearted participation by the members. In addition, the attendees were divided into two groups and games like tug-of-war, dog and the bone, shoe game, bottle and carrot game, coconut game, shooting the wicket and so on were played for everyone’s joy.
Besides the various games, the attendees enjoyed a sumptuous lunch by the Shivalli Restaurant from Leicester with inimitable traditional South Indian style. The whole group went on a cruise trip in the lake for an hour which was added enjoyment to the participants
John Peter Fernandes, secretary of MUKA proposed the vote of thanks. The picnic was very well organized by the cultural secretary Stany Sequeira with the support of the executive committee members which was appreciated by one and all. Prizes were distributed to the winners of various competitions.