Mumbai: St Joseph’s Konkani Welfare Association, Mira Road celebrates Monti Fest

By Canute Menezes, Shirva
Bellevision Media Network

Mumbai, 09 Sep 2015: Konkani Manyata Divas and Monti Fest was celebrated by St Joseph’s Konkani Welfare Association, Mira Road at Community Hall of St Joseph’s Church here on Tuesday September 8.

 

The programme started with a welcome dance. John Crasta, president of the Association welcomed the gathering.

 

Fr Charles Serrao - Provincial of Carmelites of Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra Province), Fr Melvyn D’Cunha - spiritual director of the Association and parish priest of St Joseph’s parish, Mira Road, assistant parish priest Fr Joachim, Konkani veteran singer Harryboy, Gregory Sequeira, founder member of Association Sebastian D’Souza inaugurated the function by untying the ribbon tied to the new paddy sheaves. 

 

Two minutes silence was observed for the repose of all those Konkani writers, theater artistes who departed recently. 

 

 

Provincial Fr Charles Serrao was felicitated on the same occasion.   

 

Speaking on the occasion, Fr Charles Serrao said, ‘Konkani from our birth. Our parents taught us to speak Konkani. There is no other language as beautiful as Konkani. Konkani is written in five scripts. Konkani writers, poets, dramatist thrive for the betterment of Konkani. To keep the Konkani language alive, we should speak Konkani at home, we should teach our children to speak in Konkani,’ said Provincial Fr Charles.

 

The merit students who are the children of Association members were felicitated on the same occasion. The prizes were distributed to the winners of talent contest held on August 9.

 

Sebastian D’Souza, member of the Association was greeted on his 75th Birthday. Members of the Association and their children entertained the gathering with jokes and songs. 

 

Konkani skits, ‘Amori,’ by playwright and directed by Victor D’Souza, ‘Compounder,’ by playwright and director Prasann Niddody and ‘Bolme,’ by playwright and directed by Arun Noronha were staged on the occasion.

 

Fr Melvyn D’Cunha offered prayers before the traditional fellowship meal, ‘Noven Sevnche.’ The blessed new paddy sheaves were distributed to all.

 

John Crasta invited the gathering for traditional vegetarian fellowship meal that was served on banana leaves.

 

The Association secretary Arun Noronha proposed vote of thanks. Gerald D’Souza and Sofia D’Sa compered the programme.