Dubai: Konkan Bells Celebrate Monti-fest-cum-2nd Anniversary with pomp and gaiety

By Alphonse Mendonsa
Bellevision Media Network

Dubai, 22 Sep 2012: was one of the most memorable days for ten parishioners of Belthangadi Varado celebrated Monti-Fest with great devotion and honour of B.V. Mary.  It was also the day they celebrated their first anniversary of their formation in U.A.E and that too with their beloved Parish Priest Rev. Fr. James D’Souza joined the celebrations.

 

The traditional feast began with showering of flowers at the statue of Blessed Virgin Mary by little kids and then slowly and devoutly proceeded to the main hall for the grand celebration of the second anniversary.  A large number of Parishioners were gathered at the Banquet Hall of the Fortune Hotel Apartments and joined them were Rev. Fr. James D’Souza, Dayan D’Souza (Mukamar), Fr.  Mellwill Pereira (guest priest) and brother of Walter Pereira and Ganesh Rai a prominent Kannada and Tulu activist artist and social worker.  Later Freddy Monteiro from Nainad Parish joined them.

 

The day long wonderful program began with a prayer song by singers of Konkan Bells followed by a beautiful Bharatnatyam prayer dance by Monisha Rasquinha.

 

The president of Konkan Bells addressed the gathering and welcomed Fr. James, Dian D’Souza and the visiting Parish Priest of Nainad Parish.  They were invited to the dais and were felicitated with floral bouquets. Also felicitated on the occasion was their own Parishioner Mr. Walter Pereira, who is the main sponsor and pillar of Konkan Bells.

 

To celebrate the  Anniversary, the cake was cut by all the guest along with committee members.  On the occasion Rev. Fr. James spoke and highly appreciated hospitality and hard work put up by committee members to gather such a large crowd and he was very happy to be among them on this joyous occasion.  He also requested all parishioners come get-together, live a good family life practicing family values and also to help the needy and down-trodden and under-privileged. He said he was there for their Inauguration  of Konkan Bells Association and had collected large sums for the building of their church through their great generosity and kind heartedness and thanked all the parishioners and wished them all Happy Anniversary and Monti Fest.  In gratitude of their parishioners and support Konkan Bells Fr. James offered a memento to the President Remi D’Souza and thanked him for their strong support in building of the new church in Beltangadi.

 

 

On the occasion Konkan Bells honoured Walter Pereira (MD Rapid Freight) who was instrumental in all out financial support to their Parish back home and for the strong support given to Konkan Bells in formation of their association.  He was honoured by a traditional shawl, flowers and fruit basket.  Walter Pereira responding thanked the organizers for their felicitation towards him and his wife and said he will be with them all the time whenever they need his support.

 

Representatives of all the ten parishioners of Beltangadi Varado (parishes:  Beltangadi, Arwa, Ujire, Madyantar, Nainad, Indabettu, Narawi, Vennur, Nalla andBadhyar) were called upon to the dais and were greeted and introduced to the audience.

 

Also spoke on the occasion were Dain D’Souza Mukamar and Ganesh Rai.  They too wished all the gathering a very happy anniversary and blessed wishes.   Dayan addressed the gathering very humorously and a few rib-tickling jokes.  Then he gave the message of love and humility and said that we must remember our little brothers and sister who have nothing to eat and always must remember to share our food and richness among the poor.  He was then felicitated with floral bouquet.

 

Mr. Ganesh Rai  the one who designed the Konkan Bells banner narrated a beautiful story how he was involved in church activities as an artist wherein he was saved miraculously by the Cross while painting at a very high portion of the alter of St.Anne’s Church, Virajpete.   He also said that he took great pain and efforts to restore the 14 stations of the cross (the original paintings from Rome) when destroyed by miscreants which took him months to complete and today he feels very proud that he has accomplished something and that is the blessings of Jesus Christ upon him and later on he was involved many church paintings and art-work and associated many Konkani associations here in UAE.

 

He too was felicitated with a floral bouquet and memento for his dedication and service to Konkani activities.

 

A few actions took place to generate a small fund to take of anniversary expenses.  The afternoon session was filled with loads of entertainment mostly by Pearls of Mangalore singers such as Ronald Lobo, Ida Fernandes (from Beltangadi Parish) and wonderful dances by little kids, young and old to the hindi and Konkani numbers.

 

All in all it was a total joyful celebration to the parishioners of Beltangadi people and all had a wonderful family get-together.  The entire show was ably and superbly conducted by emcee of the day Roshni Lobo and Rohit Lobo.  Both of them kept the audiane glued to the show and had done wonderful job which evident from appreciation of the crowd.

 

The sumptuous lunch was provided by Fortune Apartment hotel.  The music for the event was provided by one man band Rosal and the DJ and sound system was provided by a well know DJ of Dubai Lancy D’Souza Omzoor.

 

The great celebration ended at about 5pm.