Mumbai: Konkani Manyatha Divas was celebrated by St. Joseph’s Konkani Welfare Association, Mira Road on 08.09.2016 at Community Hall of St. Joseph’s Church. Program started with a welcome dance. Mrs. Hilda Serrao, Member of the Association offered “Paanpode Udaak”. Mr. Digo Rodrigues, President of the Association welcomed the gathering. Fr. Melwyn D’Cunha (Spiritual Director of the association and Parish Priest of St. Joseph’s Church), Fr. Joseph Martis (Rector of St. Joseph,s Seminary, Mangalore) Mr. Lawrence Coelho ( Editor of Konakni Weekly ‘Divo’), Sr. Serena (Superior, Holy Cross Sisters, Mira Road), Sr. Superior of Ankur, Mira Road along with Mr, Digo Rodrigues, Sofia D’Sa, Mr. Lawrence Mathias, Mr. John Crasta, Mr. Arun Noronha inaugurated the function by a unique way i.e. by symbolic harvesting the new crop. Two minutes silence was observed for all those Konkani writers, actors and all who worked for it. Mr. Lawrence Coelho was felicitated on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Lawrence Coelho expressed his gratitude towards Konkani people of Miraroad. Fr. Joseph Martis said he is very happy to know about St. Joseph Konkani Welfare Association and praised St. Joseph’s Konakni Welfare Association for the good work it is doing in the field of Konani. He asked the gathering to teach the culture and values of Konkani to our children. Fr. Melwyn emphasized that Konkani should be like our shadow, wherever we go, our language should follow us.

Merit holders (children of Association members) in SSC and HSC were honored. Prizes were distributed to the winners of Talent Competition held on 21.08.2016.

Members of the association and their children entertained the crowd with jokes and songs. During the occasion small kits ‘Rooma Badyak’, ‘Clinic 420’ and ‘Bill Problem’ were enacted.

The second part of the Program was ‘Noven Jevan’ program in traditional way. Before the ‘Noven Sevnche’, Fr. Joseph Martis conducted the prayer in traditional way. Thereafter Noven was distributed to all.

President of the Association, Digo Rodrigues, invited all to the Dinner by traditional way ‘Jevnak Udak’. Vegitarian ‘Jevan’ (Dinner) was on the banana leaf and Lavdate was sung by the members of St. Joseph’s Konkani Welfare Association. Mrs. Sofia D’Sa, Secretary of St. Joseph’s Konkani Welfare Association, Mira Road offered vote of thanks.

Mr. Arun Noronha compared the program beautifully.