Moodubelle, 2 January 2011: Preparations for the ‘annasantarapene’ (community meal) on the Confraternity Sunday, 2nd January 2011 have been in full-swing since the last week. Besides the vegetables and items that were received through ‘Horekanike’ on Thursday, 30th December 2010, other necessary food items were procured well in advance and stored in the parish hall. A batch of 30 cooks and helpers have been at work since Friday night in preparing in advance the sweets meant for the ‘annasantarpane’. The preparation of food for around 8,000 people from the village and neighbouring parishes who would be participating in the ‘annasantarpane’ is being supervised by Vadiraja Udupa from Belman who is well-known for arranging such community meals on large scale.
On Saturday, 1st January 2011, at 9 am, volunteers from different wards of the parish gathered in front of the parish hall to assist in the distribution of food during the community meal. Henry Alva, who had supervised the distribution of food during the Parish Day on 1st November 2010, divided the volunteers in batches of 11 volunteers for each of the 6 counters where food will be served under the buffet system. There will be six extra counters, four drinking water-points and four buttermilk tables. Nearly 150 volunteers will help in serving the food.
Henry Alva said that 250 dining tables have been arranged inside and outside the hall in which around 1000 people will be served food on plantain leaves. The ‘annasantarpne’ will begin at 12 noon and people will be served food on tables by 100 specially trained servers supervised by Vadiraja Udupa. Later, buffet service will be opened. Henry Alva gave instructions to the volunteers for the smooth distribution of the food under the buffet system.
Some volunteers completed the half woven green coconut palms which will are being used to store cooked rice.
The Confraternity Sunday (Comprecho Aitar) programme will begin with a solemn Mass at 10 am, followed by the Eucharistic procession and distribution of ‘candles of honour’ and the community meal.