UAE: Udyavarites Celebrate Monti Feast with Nostalgia

News: Louis Dante
Pics: Lancy Martis/Robin Machado

Dubai, Sep 26: It was an occasion for Udyavarites - UAE and friends to celebrate the feast of nativity in honour of our lady and to share a meal (fruits of the new corn) together with family and friends.

The annual celebration of the Monti feast also had a special significance to Udyavarites, who complete 10 years of forming the group and successfully contributing to some worthwhile causes in and around Udyavar.

'Udyavarites', natives of the backwater  town, Udyavar living in the UAE were joined by well-wishers and friends at the Tantra Banquet Hall of the Karama Hotel here for a day of celebrations with families and
friends alike.

Master of ceremony Uttam Menezes set sail on a fun-packed day with the melodies from Thushar Kuruvitage and Monica Valder along eminent Udyavarite Robert Fernandes who sang sentimental Konkani numbers and cheered the gathering with great music.

The Udyavarites had the honour of having a priest of their own Fr Canute Barboza from Udyavar to bless the new corn and to pray for the wellbeing of the families and large number of little children gathered. There was the customary showering of flowers by  children who gracefully honoured our mother.

As for the well-wishers gathered there was a quiz, which refreshed memories of the native life and style which present day kids and youngsters were left to think and look for clues. Little children put up some lively acts walking the ramp and demonstrating some brilliant fancy dress presentations. Young bunch of boys and girls presented few “nachbaliye”  style dance performances along with singing in Konkani expressing the love for the language back home in Udyavar. Native Konkani language was again the theme  of the brilliant skits acted out by the very able and dynamic stage actors among Udyavarites, Antony,

Donald, Jeffrey, Joachim, Robert, Veena and Vivian under the able guidance and direction of Gilbert.

There were competitions, spot quiz, prizes and gifts for all who tried their skills and played their part in making the day very enjoyable and memorable one.

The president of the Udyavarites outlined the various good works that were undertaken in support of the needy through the past ten years and called on all the new members and well-wishers to be more  interactive and make more of the opportunities that present themselves from time to time. He also requested all to log on to the blog http://www.udyavarites.blogspot.com to be able to track news and post views and to make the community more vibrant even in the e-world.