‘Twinkling Stars’ win Gulab carol singing competition

Gulab Silver Jubilee celebrations aim to promote Konkani

‘Twinkling Stars’ win Gulab carol singing competition
By Gasper Crasto

The tradition of Christmas carols hails back as far as the thirteenth century, although carols were originally folk songs sung during celebrations like harvest, tide or Christmas. It was only later that carols begun to be sung in church, and to be specifically associated with Christmas. It is for the very first time in Kuwait that a Goan organization took up the challenge to present’Carol singing competition’ as part of the third and final event of the GULAB Konkani magazine’s Silver Jubilee celebrations that commenced in June 2008. A number of Groups presented their best performances.

The event organized by the Kala Mogui Kuwait (KMK) and Gulab Working Committee was held at the Carmel School Auditorium, Kheitan, Kuwait on Friday evening, Dec 26,
2008 — the Boxing Day. The groups that presented their carols which were mostly in Konkani, as well as in English were: ‘Life Group, Kheitan’, ‘Twinkling Stars’, ‘Mankam Motiam’, ‘Zokzokit Taram (Senior)’, ‘Zokzokit Taram (Junior)’ and guest singers ‘City Carolers’.

Highlight
The highlight of the day was a live presentation of the Infant’s birth by
‘Life Group, Kheitan’ with the participation of 25 tiny tots and co-ordinated
by a dozen of seniors. Another feature of the evening was a skit ‘Natalanchi
Bhett’ written by Lino Dourado and directed by Sushil Amonkar, and a solo
song ‘Love in Winter Wonderland’ sung by Micky Fernandes. The judges for the
Carol Singing Competition were Miss Effie De Melo, Faustino Menezes and
Anthony Gonsalves.
It was an unanimous decision of the judges to declare the Twinkling Stars as
winners of the first ever Gulab Carol Singing Competition with a total of 114
points closely followed by ‘Mankam Motiam’ as 1st Runners-up with 108 points, and ‘Zokzokit Taram’ as 2nd Runners-up with 102 points. The auditor/
modulator for the judges was Manuel F.X. Fernandes, senior Konkani
stage artiste, and Ms Anjali Amonkar, yet another latest stage sensation in
Kuwait. Earlier the judges were introduced to the audience by KMK
President/compere Dominic Araujo.

Another star Konkani stage artiste Querobina Carvalho handed the competition
folders and guidelines to the jury. The main focus of the Silver Jubilee
celebrations was to create additional awareness of GULAB - the first
Konkani magazine to be published in Roman Konkani which was a dream
concept of late Fr. Freddy J. Da Costa, its former editor and publisher. For
details on how to subscribe, advertise or present writings in Konkani for inclusion
in the forthcoming issues of GULAB, readers in Kuwait may contact
Tel: +965 99391452 / +965 24726524 or email gulabq8@gmail.com. For all
other queries, Fausto V. Da Costa, the editor of GULAB in Goa can be reached
by email at fausto@vsnl.net.

Participation
The past two events were organized on a much grander scale and had a large
audience for the professional tiatr troupe that was flown in from Goa for
the Aug 15, 2008 (Independence Day) show. The second event was ‘Konkani
Variety Show” on Oct 9, 2008 which had a participation of over 100 singers/choreographers/Konkani stage artistes, was attended by Gulab’s editor
Fausto V. Da Costa, specially flown to grace the occasion together with a wellknown
Konkani writer Pio Esteves. The organizers thanked the Konkani lovers, the Goan and Mangalorean community in Kuwait, well-wishers, raffle players, the new Gulab subscribers, the tiatrists, tiatr lovers and leaders, coordinators and participants of all the three events.

It should be noted that, never ever in the history of Konkani such events were
held in one calendar year by a single GWS committee members themselves.
The awards are donated by Mr & Mrs Sam Alphonso.
Konkani poet and writer Lino B. Dourado was at his best, conducting the
Konkani ‘Christmas’ quiz and jokes to the amusement of all. Dourado’s
superbly written Konkani play ‘Natalanchi Bhett’ was both entertaining
and thought-provoking which had the participation of popular Konkani stage artistes Querobina Carvalho, Braz de Parra, Lawrie Miranda, Micky Fernandes, the much appreciated Anjali Amonkar with guest appearance by teenagers Graham Rodrigues and
Abigail Pereira. The play was directed by Sushil Amonkar. The message conveyed
in the play was indeed a ‘gift’ for ‘Christmas’ as the titled signified.

Mementos
A special thanksgiving presentation of mementos were given to Cruz and Elva
Rodrigues of Life Group Kheitan, Aurora Fernandes of Twinkling Stars, Agnela
Fernandes of Zokzokit Taram, Antonette Sequeira of Mankam Motian and Simon
Dias of City Carolers. The judges Effie De Melo, Faustinho Menezes and
Anthony Gonsalves also received mementos apart from the guest artistes
Graham Rodrigues and Abigail Pereira.

Gulab Working Committee’s dedicated members who were presented mementos
were Sushil Amonkar, Anjali Amonkar, Manuel F.X. Fernandes, Gaspar Almeida,
Micky Fernandes, Lino B. Dourado, Laurence Miranda, Querobina Carvalho,
Braz Rodrigues (de Parra), Gracy Morais, Felix Fernandes (de Merces). A
very special memento was presented to the family of Domingos Araujo.
The Gulab Carol Singing Competition was supported by Agnelo Baracho, Wilson Coelho and Luis B. Cardozo & fly. Music Maestro Socorro De Melo supported Mankam Motiam
and Zokzokit Taram - the two groups that were co-ordinated by the KMK President. As an encouraging gesture, a special memento was presented by Kala Mogui Kuwait to Agnela Fernandes for her tireless efforts, costume design and support towards the competition. The lucky draw for the Gulab Novelty prize went to Coupon # 180.
Luis B. Cardozo’s contribution and support was duly acknowledged with a
presentation of a special memento. In his short speech, Mr Cardozo applauded
the event organizers for not only bringing together nearly 150 participants
on stage for the GULAB Carol Singing Competition for the very first
time, but for all the efforts towards the promotion of Konkani and especially to
the GULAB magazine through the past two (2) events held during the year.

Festive
The show was attended by an enthusiastic festive audience. Towards the end, the arrival of Santa with a heavy loaded bag of gifts, sweets and candies took the children to cheerful heights and with the Christmas music aloud, it was a parting time with the exchange of ‘Seasons’ Greetings’. Special thanks were conveyed by the organizers to the Carmel School Authorities, the Kuwaiti press and media, the Arab Times, www.goa-world.com website, indiansinkuwait. com and kuwaitsamachar.
com web portals and the Gulf-Goans e-Newsletter and other internet forums.
The organizers saluted all those who worked behind the scenes tirelessly for the love of Konkani. Once again kudos to Domnic Araujo who excelled as a leader, organizer and compere.
The brain behind the Gulab Silver Jubilee Celebrations, through the Kala
Mogui Kuwait was well supported by the Gulab Working Committee. Summing it all in his words, “Wherever there is Konkani I am there.” He further added “I’ll be ready to organize any further events of such magnitude and nature. I only seek your cooperation”, and the audience applauded affirming their support to their mother tongue and Goa's state language.

(ARAB TIMES - http://www.arabtimesonline.com)