Doha: Goans in Qatar Celebrate Goa Day

Media Release

Doha, Nov 23: Goans Sports Club (DGSC) organized ‘Goa Day’ celebrations on Friday November 19 by presenting a number of cultural programmes at Doha Municipality Building conference hall near Museum Roundabout in Doha Qatar.
The entire four-and-half-hour-long programme was filled with entertainment. The artistes, who took the stage on this occasion, succeeded in reminding the gathering about their native state, and also in whipping up emotions by presenting programmes which richly depicted Goan festivals, customs, language, short skits and comedy shows.
 
The audience witnessed a large dose of traditional Goan songs and dances from Goa, besides the programmes which enlivened the native festivals and culture of Goa, which form an integral part of Goan way of life back home. Comedy skits that were staged on the occasion made them to laugh to their hearts’ content.

Walter Dias, executive director of Unique Choice, was the chief guest at the Goa Day celebrations. Vice president of DGSC, Lubino Soares, welcomed the guest of honour, Fr Anand Castelino, Arthur Mendonca, and patron of the club, Basil Coutinho. Mathew Estrocio emceed the show and delivered the welcome address.
 
A few distinguished individuals were also honoured on this occasion for their contributions to the Goan community. Besides, talent awards were also presented to some budding artistes with outstanding talents.

The Goan Community Welfare Award was presented to Basil Coutinho for the services rendered by him to the club and the community. The Young Talent Award (below 16) was conferred on Belina D’Souza for her expertise in music and the skills exhibited by her in playing the saxophone at various functions at school, other programmes, and shows.

Outstanding Award (16 and above) was presented to Emelina Soares, in recognition of her achievements in the fields of arts, sports and drama. She had recently performed in the Konkani Tiatr (Soglank Nomoskar) as a bride. She also had donned three roles in a theatre production of 'Wizard of Oz'. In addition, this talented girl had participated in three dance presentations and a play at  the World Goa Day celebrations in Doha, Qatar, and will shortly be performing in Bugsymalone (play) in December 2010.
 
Advisor of DGSC, Mathew Estrocio, conveyed a message to the audience on the concept of World Goa Day, and said that Goa Day is being celebrated to conserve interest of the Goans in their culture, traditions and Konkani language, to unite all the Goans, besides promoting sports, and motivate the young  persons to showcase their latent talents.

Fr Anand said he was very pleased to witness a turnout of over 500 guests at the programme, and assured his full support for the cultural activities of the club.
 
Mauricio Pereira proposed vote of thanks to all the sponsors and also all the participants, who contributed to the success of the programme.

Vice president of the club, Lubino, concluded the show by thanking all those present to witness this gala event.
 
World Goa Day is celebrated by designating a day specifically for the Goans to reflect on the Goan identity and to consider what it means to be a Goan and taking pride in being one, and to unite with Goans all over the world in solidarity, to celebrate Goa’s history, Konkani language, music, cultural heritage and traditions.

Goa day celebrations were first kicked off in 2000 by London-based Rene Baretto, who gave birth to this concept.
 
World Goa Day 2010 was celebrated worldwide on August 20, 2010, to mark the historic inclusion of Konkani language in the eighth schedule of the Indian Constitution, making Konkani the official language of the state of Goa.
 
This was the third event to be hosted by the recently revived DGSC. The first event was a presentation by a Konkani Tiatr group from Goa, and the second was the inter-village football tournament that was won by Calangute village team.

Meanwhile, DGSC has informed that it will be celebrating the feast of Francis Xavier on December 3, and will stage a dine and dance show on December 6, to celebrate the feast.

DGSC also revealed plans to organize a repeat show of the four events staged at the Goa Day during the Francis Xavier Feast Day.