"Goenchim Noketram" in Bahrain

"Goenchim Noketram" in Bahrain

‘Goenchim Noketram’ the cultural and folk group from Goa led by Gina Mascarenhas provided lively entertainment for Goans in Bahrain. The Goan Cultural Traditions of song and dance filled the air at the Baan Saeng Thai Restaurant Auditorium Bahrain, on October 22, 2009 where the show was held under the patronage of Young Goans Club.

The group comprising of musicians, singers and dancers presented a three hour cultural fiesta of Goan song and dance. The items included Goan Dekni and Fugdi dance. The audience applauded every item presented by the group and the opera musicals in mime and movements on the life style of Xethkamti (farmer), kharvi (fisherfolk) and render (toddytaper) were cheered throughout. The presentations brought back the nostalgic memories of bygone era of Goa.

The group electrified the performances by their originality and depicting the culture old tools relevant to the trade. It was wondrous to see the entire audience joining the singing as the group played some old Goan instrumentals using instruments like ghumot, mandolin, bongos and cymbals. A medley of Hindi, Portuguese, English and Konkani favourites of yester years got many in the crowd on to their feet and were seen dancing and swaying to the beat. The show culminated with traditional mando and dulpods. The group not only won laurels for their song and dance but for the costumes and jewellery they showcased relevant to each presentation.

‘Goenchim Noketram’ the cultural and folk group from South Goa are the award winners at Mando Festivals held all over Goa in 2008 and 2009. The group has also performed at the inaugural ceremony of International Film Festival in November 2008 and at the concluding ceremony of Asia Pacific Conference in October 2008. Goenchim Noketram have toured different parts of India to present their shows and were the main attractions for Goa Day celebrations in Dubai in June 2008.


The show in Bahrain was sponsored by Jet Airways. GR Crasto compered the show and kept the audience spellbound with witty questions on Goan culture, songs and personalities that carried prizes donated by the group ‘Goenchim Noketram’.



Report and pictures
exclusive by www.goa-world.com

30/10/2009

Silver Anniversary of the Priesthood of Rev. Fr. Felicio Diniz

Silver Anniversary of the Priesthood of Rev. Fr. Felicio Diniz

The Catholic Community of Awali is organizing a celebration to mark the Silver Anniversary of the Priesthood of Rev. Fr. Felicio Diniz, who is the Parish Priest of the Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Visitation, at Awali. The celebrations will be held on Friday, 30th October, 2009 at the Church grounds in Awali.

Fr. Felicio had the special privilege of being ordained priest by His Holiness, the late Pope John Paul II at St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome on 31st May, 1984. He served as Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Church, Manama, for 15 years from 1989. During this period, he undertook major improvements of the facilities and infrastructure of Sacred Heart Church for the benefit of parishioners by building the Multipurpose Hall, the Tirnanzi Auditorium and the Byrnes Youth Hall, in addition to refurbishing the original small church.

While serving as Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Church, he also gave regular services at Awali Church, a facility owned by the Bahrain Petroleum Company that has been existing for almost as many years as the Sacred Heart Church, to meet the spiritual needs of many Catholics residing at Awali, Riffa and surrounding districts.


In October 2004, he relinquished his responsibilities as Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Church and went on sabbatical leave for about three years. After his return to Bahrain in 2007, H.E. Bishop Paul Hinder, Vicar Apostolic of Arabia, appointed him as resident Parish Priest of the Awali Church dedicated to Our Lady of the Visitation to pastor the growing Christian community in the area.

The ceremony on 30th October will commence with Thanksgiving Concelebrated Solemn Mass at 5.00 PM, the main celebrant being H.E. Bishop Paul Hinder, who will be present for the occasion. The felicitation program will soon follow, with colorful cultural program lined up.

The organizing committee welcomes all parishioners both from Manama, Awali, Riffa and elsewhere to attend in large numbers. Transport will be available for parishioners coming from Manama.



Info source: www.goa-world.com
G.R. Crasto

26/10/2009

Goan cultural fiesta

Goan cultural fiesta

Gulf Daily News-Bahrain/October 21, 2009



BAHRAIN'S Goan community will enjoy a three-hour cultural fiesta at a musical event being organised by the Young Goans Club (YGC) tomorrow night.

Goan cultural traditions of song and dance are expected to come alive at the show that will take place from 8pm at the Baan Saeng Thai Restaurant auditorium, Adliya.

The event is being organised in association with the Bahrain-based Folk Theatre and will see award-winning Goan cultural and folk group Goenchim Noketram take the stage.

The group comprising musicians, singers and dancers will present a three-hour cultural show including Goan Mando Dancing, Goan Dekhni and Fugdi Dances as well as songs in Konkani, Hindi, Portuguese and English.

The stage show will highlight different aspects of the lifestyles of Xethkamti (farmer), Kharvi (fisherfolk) and Kunbi (the labour community) in the form of opera musicals, mime acts and movements.

"It's an opportunity for Bahrain based Goans to witness traditional Goan music played on instruments like ghumot, mandolin, bongos and cymbals," organisers told the GDN.

Goenchim Noketram have won numerous awards at Mando Festivals across Goa in recent months and have performed at international high profile events.

They were also the headline act at the Goa Day celebrations in Dubai in June last year.

The show is being sponsored by Jet Airways and will also feature comedy skits by the group.

Tickets cost BD3, BD4 and BD5 and are available at the YGC office and at World Greetings, both in Manama.

Contact 39659539, 39455207, 39048046 or 39939654 for more information.

Upcoming Events in Bahrain

The Young Goans Club - Bahrain

presents

Qatar Airways

O2BN Bandra

Fun Day of Music / Games / Food for Young & Old

Venue: Baeng Sang Thai (Auditorium), Manama, Bahrain

Date: Friday, October 16th, 2009

Time: 11:00 a.m. onwards


Sponsor: Qatar Airways.


Highlights:
Jam Session
Bandra Dandya
Cooking Contest
Jive Competition.


Goan Mouth Watering Delicacies.
Mumbai Traditional Sweets
Planned Cuisine.
Food Stalls.
Games Stalls.
Test Your Skills & Patience.


Cooking competition
Goan/East Indian Delicacies only.


For more details, contact Francis C - 3965939
Francis Vaz - 39455207
Noel - 39048046
Gerald - 39939654
or Young Goans Club Committee Memebers.

My ‘tiatristponn’ in Bahrain - Domnic Fernandes

My ‘tiatristponn’ in Bahrain


My ‘tiatristponn’ lay dormant in me for over two decades. Just like Kuwait
tiatrists, I began my ‘tiatristponn’ in Bahrain, as a ‘Partist’, from 1973
to 1980. I had saved some handbills of tiatros I acted in and left them at
home but my wife doesn’t seem to find them; perhaps, they got misplaced.
I got my first break through Zefferino Silveira (from Calangute) in his
tiatr “SIRVIDOR.” Actually, I was assigned a prompter’s job but suddenly
the main ‘partist’ who was doing bhattkar’s/father’s role backed out. This
is where Zefferino asked me to do the role which I did with great
perfection.

Zefferino used to be the make-up man for Bombay tiatrists until he came to
Bahrain. He is also the person who presented a “Zagor-cum-tiatr” with
gumttam-madhiim-kansaiim on the stage in Mapusa in the early 1980’s. I
learned through Jessie Dias, the stage actress from Anjuna, last May that
Zefferino is now in England. Zefferino, if you read this message and if you
remember any names of the tiatros I acted in Bahrain, please let me know or
you may post them on Goanet.

I was next booked by the late Vincent de Saligao for the hero’s role in one
of his dramas in which his daughter, Luiza de Saligao, was the heroine; she
also acted with me as a heroine in one more tiatro – sorry I can’t remember
the names. Luiza, if you read this message in Singapore, please let me know
the names of the tiatros we acted together or you may post them on Goanet.

I played a variety of roles in dozens of tiatros in Bahrain during the
above-mentioned period. Miss Santana from Candolim acted with me as heroine
in most of the tiatros. Mrs. Santana Nunes (w/o Joaquim Nunes - St. Inez –
he was one of the best hockey goalkeepers of the YGSC in the 1970’s,) if you
read this message, please let me know the names of all the tiatros we acted
together in Bahrain or you may post them on Goanet. Martha D’Souza, Maria
Fonseca, Jessie (Mangalorean), Mrs. Blanche Goveia (w/o Jimmy Goveia –
Mangalorean), Lancy Sequeira (Mangalorean singer), John Mendonsa, Luis Frois
of the Gulf Daily News – if you read this message please let me know the
names of tiatros we acted in or you may post them on Goanet.

I was mainly associated with the late Peter-de-Morjim (Peter Mascarenhas,
originally from Morjim but resident of Bandra, Bombay) and Mario Alphonso
from Salcette who I believe is still in Bahrain. Both these gentlemen are
very good actors, comedians, singers, writers, composers and directors.
They presented 2-3 dramas/year under the banner “MM Production” (Mario &
Morjim Production); I acted in all their tiatros. I could recall only two
names “MHOZO PUT” and “VISVAS GHATH” by Peter-de-Morjim. Mario, if you read
this message please let me know the names of all “MM Production” tiatros
that we acted in or you may post them on Goanet.

During my tenure as the General Secretary of the Young Goans Sports Club
(YGSC) - now Young Goans Club (YGC), we brought Bombay professional
tiatrists to Bahrain for the first time. They were: The late Jacinto Vaz,
Mary Vaz, C. Alvares, Betty Fernandes and Remie Colaco; Cyriaco Dias was
already employed in Bahrain. Altogether, we staged 5 tiatros: (1) KEDNAM
UDETOLO TO DIS by C. Alvares, (2) GHORACHEM SUKH by Remie Colaco, (3)
GHOVACHEM GHOR by Jacinto Vaz, (4) FARIKPONN by Cyriaco Dias and (5) another
tiatr by Cyriaco Dias - I don’t remember the name. I played lead roles in
all these dramas.

I also acted in two more professional tiatros in Bahrain - sorry, cannot
recall their names - (1) by the late Bab Peter and (2) by Rico Rod. The
following actors/actresses participated in both the tiatros: Alfred Rose,
Bab Peter, M. Boyer, Ophelia (Babli was just six months old), Antonette,
Fatima, Rico Rod, Titta Pretto, Joe Rose and Seby Coutinho. If I meet any
of these actors barring the first three (M. Boyer cannot speak,) I will find
out the names of those tiatros and post them on Goanet. The late Chris
Perry provided music for both tiatros. Chris was then employed with the
Moon Plaza Hotel in Juffair.

I acted only once in M. Boyer’s tiatr in Mapusa; it was a small role - that
of a doctor. Here again, I cannot recall the name, but surely Joe Rose will
remember it because both of us exchanged dialogues in the scene.

While in Bahrain, I was also closely associated with the Mangalorean
community through the Karnataka Sports Club. The Goan tiatrist fraternity
in Bahrain at the time succeeded in bringing the two communities closer by
staging specially written tiatros with Goan and Mangalorean cast. We
successfully staged four such joint-ventures. In one of the tiatros, the
story was based on Goan-Mangalorean families. The late Baptist Mendonsa
(Mangalorean – was employed with the Gulf Hotel) and the late
Peter-de-Morjim jointly wrote and directed the tiatros. Peter-de-Morjim,
Mario Alphonso and I are the founder members of the Konkan Singers’ Club
(KSC) which was founded by raising funds through tiatros. Cyril D’Souza, a
Mangalorean, was the brain behind the formation of the KSC. He and several
others brought many advertisements which helped us raise funds for the new
club.

Tiatr band players in those days came from the Bahrain Police Band. The
band was headed by the late Custodio Fernandes (rhythm guitarist), late
Cajetan or Cajie Fernandes (drummer & solfist - he wrote solfas for our
tiatros; he played for Bombay professional tiatrists before he came to
Bahrain), Raposo Fernandes (sexaphone), Carlito Fernandes (trumpet; I
believe he still plays for tiatros in Goa and gives music to cassettes/CDs)
and there was another guy who played clarinet – sorry I cannot recall his
name. I will try and visit Carlito when I am in Goa next; I think he lives
in Benaulim. He played music for all the tiatros I acted in; he might
remember some of the names of tiatros.

The entrance fee for a tiatr in Bahrain in the 1970’s was Fils 800 and 500
respectively. The fee of Fils 800 was later raised to BD.1.000.

It was quite difficult in those days to stage tiatros in Bahrain. We mostly
suffered losses but we didn’t give up; we continued to stage tiatros for the
love of Konkani and Goans there. Every time we staged a drama, we had to
pay BD.5.000 as hire charges for “pod’de” (drops.) We came across an artist
- Domnic Viegas from Tivim who painted four drops for us free of charge.
The painting job was carried out on the terrace of late Seby D’Souza’s
residence in Manama. Seby hailed from Navelim. He also was a tiatrist,
writer and director. I acted in one of his dramas.

All tiatros that we staged in Bahrain in the 1970’s were a one-time event.
As such, one had to give his/her best and prove his/her ability in one
attempt!

It is my desire to give some tiatr performances after I retire my job in two
years time!

Moi-mogan,
Domnic Fernandes
Anjuna/Dhahran, KSA

July 30, 2005

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FOTKIRI AXEA - Konkani Song by Antonette Mendes

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=94c9860c84&view=audio&msgs=122cb38dddedf460&attid=0.1&zw

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YGC ORGANIZES CARROM TOURNAMENTS

FRANCIS CORREIA

(COURTESY: GULAB)