Goans celebrate Goa Day Doha: Doha Goans Sports Club (DGSC) organized “Goa Day” on Friday November 19 by presenting a number of cultural programmes at Doha Municipality Bldg conference hall near Museum Roundabout in Doha Qatar. The entire four and half hour programme was full of entertainment, with artists whipping up emotions using different tools like Goan festivals, customs, language, short skits and comedy shows. The audience witnessed a large dose of traditional Goan songs and dances from Goa, besides artist’s depicted different festivals and culture of Goa which form an integral part of Goan way of life back home in Goa. Comedy skits were also staged on the occasion.
Walter Dias Executive Director of Unique Choice was the chief guest for the Goa Day. Vice President, Lubino Soares, welcomed the Guest of honor Rev. Father Anand Castelino, and Arthur Mendonca and Patron of the Club Basil Coutinho. Mathew Estrocio emceed the show and gave the welcome address. Some individuals were also honored on the occasion for their contribution to the Goan community and outstanding talents awards were presented to some budding artists. The Goan Community Welfare Award was presented to Basil Coutinho for services rendered towards the club and the community. The Young Talent Award (below 16) was presented to Belina D’Souza for her expertise in music and playing the saxophone at various functions at school and other programmes and shows. Outstanding Award (16 and above)was presented to Emelina Soares towards her performance in Arts, Sports and Drama. She recently performed in the Konkani Tiatr (Soglank Nomoskar) as a bride. She also performed in a theatre production of 'Wizard of OZ' in three roles. She also participated in three dance and play programs at the WORLD GOA Day celebrations in Doha, Qatar and will be performing in Bugsymalone (play) in December 2010. The advisor of DGSC, Mathew Estrocio, conveyed a message to the audience on the concept of World Goa Day and said that Goa Day is in preparation to unite all Goans to focus on their culture, tradition and Konkani language, to promote Sports, and motivate the young talents among us. Fr. Anand, said he was very pleased to witness a turn out of more than 500 guests and assured his full support for the cultural activities of the club. Mauricio Pereira gave a vote of thanks to all the sponsors and to all the Participants who put up the programme. The vice president Lubino concluded the show by thanking all who were present to witness the Gala event. World Goa Day is celebrated by designating a day specifically for Goans to reflect on the Goan identity and to consider what it means to be a Goan and taking pride in being one and to unite with Goans all over the world, in solidarity, to celebrate Goa’s history, Konkani language, music, cultural heritage and traditions. Goa day celebrations were first kicked off in 2000 by London-based Rene Baretto who is the brainchild behind the project. World Goa Day 2010 is being celebrated worldwide on 20th August, 2010, to mark the historic inclusion of Konkani language in the VIIIth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, making Konkani the official language of the State of Goa. This is the third event to be hosted by the recently revived DGSC, the first event was the hosting of the Konkani tiatr group from Goa, and the second was the inter-village football tournament which was by Calangute village team. Meanwhile, DGSC informed that they will be celebrating the feast of Francis Xavier on December 3 and will stage a Dine and Dance show on December 6, to celebrate the feast. DGSC also said that they will perform a repeat show of the four events staged at the Goa Day during the Francis Xavier feast day. http://bit.ly/GoaDayDoha2010
