The First World Konkani
Cultural Convention - Step-by-step towards the Convention
Bangalore, June 21: 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.