THE FIRST WORLD KONKANI CULTURAL CONVENTION – Step-by-step, towards the
Convention…
June 17, 2010:
(i) 11.30 a.m. – Press Conference at the Press Club of Bangalore –
regarding the World Konkani Cultural Convention Launching Ceremony. Over 40
representatives of both the Press and the electronic media were present. Eric
Baab addressed the Conference. Shri Ronald Colaco, the Chairman of the
Reception Committee, World Konkani Cultural Convention; was present along with
Shri Stany Alvares, Co-ordinator, Mandd Sobhann, and Shri Charles Gomes and
Shri Naveen D’Souza, Chairman and Secretary of the Federation of Konkani
Catholic Associations, Bangalore, respectively.
(ii) Meeting of the leaders of the Saraswat and G.S.B. organizations and
Theatre and music artistes of these communities – at 6 p.m. – at Canara Union,
Malleswaram – Nearly 50 individuals attended. Eric Baab briefed the gathering
regarding the World Konkani Cultural Convention and requested the involvement
and participation of every community in Konkani. He also invited the gathering,
to the Launching Ceremony on Sunday. The gathering assured Eric Baab of its
fullest support.
(iii) At the dinner hosted by the Chairman at his Swiss Town Banquet Hall,
that evening, wherein the Executive Committee of KCA, all Presidents and
Secretaries of Konkani Catholic Associations and special invitees numbering
around 170 were present; Eric Baab spoke and called for the participation of
everyone gathered, in the World Konkani Cultural Convention. Shri Oscar
Fernandes (a Patron of the World Konkani Cultural Convention), who was present
along with his family and friends, was also felicitated on his victory that
morning in the election to the Rajya Sabha.
June 18, 2010:
Meeting at Mysore, with the leaders of the Konkani Movement there. Around 30
individuals, mostly Executive Members of the Mysore Konkani Christian
Association, were present. Eric Baab invited the leaders to the Launching
Ceremony, as well as to participate whole-heartedly in the World Konkani
Cultural Convention. The enthusiasm and the assurances were very encouraging.
June 20, 2010:
The Launching Ceremony of the First World Konkani Cultural Convention was held
with great grandeur. The Chief Guest, Shri G. Janardhana Reddy, Minister for
Tourism and Infrastructure, Government of Karnataka, arrived very much on time,
and Shri Ronald Colaco, the Chairman of the Reception Committee, was there to
receive him. At 6 sharp, the grand event unfolded with a song by the Goan
troupe, ‘Goenchim Neketram’, which they followed up by the ever-immortal
Dekhnni ‘Hanv Saiba Poltodi Vetam’
The formal programme on stage then began with the welcome address by Mandd
Sobhann Gurkaar, Shri Eric Ozario, who also presented before the gathering, an
idea of what the World Konkani Cultural Convention will involve. Shri Rony
Colaco who spoke immediately thereafter, gave a call to all Konkani people to
rally around this event which would showcase to the world, the beauty and the
rich variety of Konkani culture. He then requested the Minister to contribute
personally and also to impress upon the Government of Karnataka to contribute
generously.
‘The Muhurth’ –
The Muhurth was simple, but a very meaningful affair. Four ladies of the Goan
troupe, dressed with the traditional costumes, ceremoniously brought betel
leaves, arecanuts, rice, ‘kumkum’, ‘haldi’ and jasmine, and placed it on the
brass plate held in one hand by the Minister. A gent, dressed traditionally,
brought a small pot of water and poured it into a smaller brass pot and gave it
to the Minister. The Minister then handed over the plate and the pot to the
Chairman of the Reception Committee with the words – “Go unto the world and
invite all Konkanis to participate in this world event”. Rony Baab then stepped
down from the stage, with the plate and the pot of water, into the gathering
and welcomed them, to start with. The Muhurth was accompanied by fireworks and
traditional music by the Goan troupe.
The Minister, in his speech, wished the Convention well and promised his own
contribution as well as a considerable amount as grant from the Government of
Karnataka.
Shri Titus Noronha, who compeered the programme, proposed the Vote of Thanks,
and handed over the mike to Shri Arun Raj Rodrigues, PRO, Mandd Sobhann, to
conduct the cultural presentation of the Goan troupe.
The audience was so enthralled, that they refused to leave even after the
scheduled presentation was over and the performers obliged them with two
sessions of medleys.
It was indeed a grand beginning to a grand world-event – The First World
Konkani Cultural Convention. Mandd Sobhann is planning ‘curtain-raisers’ in
Mumbai, Goa and Dubai, in the coming days as a run-up to the event.
For photos and other details, log on top our official website:
www.daijiworld.com.
