Milena Marques-Zachariah as the name suggests, is a Toronto live-wire. To those like myself who know both the Goan and Mangalorean communities well, I could be excused for thinking Milena is a Mangalorean. They are more heritage minded than we ever shall be. But she is in fact from Parra.
Talking of heritage, Toronto has a Curtorim-Loutulim-Raia informal group who started out as a band of personal friends knowing each other from the three Salcette villages. Quietly but determinedly the CLR as they call themselves, jokingly also referring to themselves as Calcium, Lime and Rust, have been going to many functions both social and church, performing mandos and other heritage music, not only to music but also to fine dance. Hearing them in Toronto sometimes singing little known but beautiful Konkani hyms, one is transported to a quiet village church in Goa nestled among coconut and mango trees and paddy fields, it's the next best thing to being in Goa yourself. All strength to Milena and her team and the CLR. http://m.timesofindia.com/city/goa/Making-waves-in-Canada-for-the-love-of-Konkani/articleshow/51173838.cms Roland Francis Toronto.
