Sharjah: United Loretto Friends’ ‘Konkan Udkana’ spreads festive joy
A Grand Celebration of Mangalurean Unity and Festive Spirit in Sharjah
Sharjah, February 19: The ‘Konkan Udkana’ event, orchestrated by United Loretto Friends on Sunday, February 11 at Wanderers Sports Club, Sharjah, culminated with grandeur notwithstanding weekend drizzles.
The somber weather failed to dampen the enthusiasm of over 1200 Mangalureans who graced the highly-anticipated Mangalurean Catholic Konkani-speaking family fest, infusing the atmosphere with festive spirits.
The proceedings commenced with the registration of participating players, followed by an inaugural ceremony graced by Fr Victor Fernandes, spiritual director of St Mary’s Catholic Church, Dubai; Alwyn Cutinha, coordinator of SMMKC, Sharjah; and Jeevan Vas, coordinator of SMMC, Dubai. ULF president Rupesh Pinto extended a warm welcome to the dignitaries, while the prayer song, performed by Priyanka D’Souza, invoked the blessings of the Almighty.
In his presidential address, Fr Victor Fernandes lauded the efforts of United Loretto Friends in fostering community cohesion through such events, remarking, “The effort and hard work of United Loretto Friends bringing people together by organising such events makes the community grow stronger.”
The inaugural ceremony concluded with the unveiling of the theme song of United Loretto Friends and an oath-taking ceremony administered by Vinod Pinto. Lloyd Rodrigues, the secretary of ULF, extended gratitude in a vote of thanks.
A total of 22 teams, each comprising 16 players (8 men and women), participated in all the fest games. Tru Events Team AB clinched the overall championship of Konkan Udkana 2024, while Leyton Shipping Team AB and Shalom-A jointly shared the runner-up title. Team Coastal Friends was recognized as the most disciplined team.
Throughout the day, the crowd was entertained by dance performances and comedy acts, notably by Nishan Torres and group, Sancia Martis, Lenora D’Souza, Novika Rosario, and the duo of Evangeline D’Mello and Prameela D’Souza. Dubai’s renowned “Band Open High” enthralled the audience with Konkani and Bollywood numbers.
DJ Norman kept dancers energized with electrifying beats, while ‘Team Pili Nalike Dubai’ presented a captivating Mangalurean tiger dance as the special attraction. Children aged 3 to 14 participated in kids’ games within their respective categories.
The winners and runners of the individual games category are as below:
The closing ceremony saw the presence of Manoj Vas, proprietor of Resort Supplies LLC, and Joseph Mathias, managing director of Merit Freight LLC, who expressed gratitude to the attendees for supporting United Loretto Friends.
Donald Noronha extended thanks to sponsors, donors, and participants for the event’s resounding success. The dynamic duo of Roshan and Ninet Moras hosted the event, with the ULF committee members and nearly 50 volunteers contributing selflessly to its success.
