King Momo, Gregory D'Souza, his Queen Othelia Fernandes along with the carnival entourage.
LONDON
The second edition of ‘Carnival Spectacle 2.0 with Valentine's Day Edition’ was presented on February 14, bringing the excitement and energy of the Goan Carnival and Valentine’s Day to the heart of the Milton Keynes, England.
The ‘Carnival Spectacle 2.0 & Valentine's Day Edition’ attracted Goans from Milton Keynes, Leighton Buzzard, Hounslow, Northampton, Bracknell, Brackley, Harrow, Wembley, Slough, Swindon, Leicester, Dunstable and different parts of London, making it an inclusive celebration of culture, music, and community.
The highlight of the evening was the King Momo's parade along with his entourage which marked the official start of the festivities. Gregory D'Souza, originally from Colva and ex-Kuwait now based in Milton Keynes, took on the role of King Momo, and declared the carnival open by reading the ceremonial decree.
The King Momo's parade, accompanied by children, youngsters and the grandeur of King Momo’s entourage, was one of many memorable highlights of the evening.
The event, organised by Iconic Events and Entertainment (UK) Ltd, featured one of UK's top Goan Band ‘Rhythm Mates’ and the Dubai-born, Goan DJ Synclair Varella, with MC Sydelle Varella hosting the event.
Guests enjoyed an array of snacks and a Goan buffet, catered by Mc Clesscia D'Costa and Candida Pereira of Iconic Caterers.
The Players Bar had a huge variety of their signature cocktails, mocktails and spirits along with special handcrafted valentine's gifts.
The evening included a novelty draw with several prizes, bingo, and surprise giveaways throughout the night.
The event was supported by Malabar Gold & Diamonds and The Dosa Company based in Milton Keynes.
Goan Association (UK) President Ravi Vaz, his wife Jennifer Vaz along with Milton Keynes King Momo Gregory D'Souza, his Queen Othelia Fernandes, last year's King Momo and his Queen Rosch Goes and Lecrissa Fernandes, Melissa Lawrence Fernandes, and the event organisers Reman Fernandes and Simon Varella.
Ravi Vaz, President of the Goan Association UK, and his wife, Jennifer Vaz, were the special invitees for the event and were felicitated at the event.
Ravi Vaz thanked the people of Milton Keynes and all others present for coming in big numbers for the Carnival/Valentine's event. He expressed his happiness for all the good work the Goan community does for the Goans in Milton Keynes.
He stressed that Goans always love to celebrate and keep up their traditions, festivals irrespective of wherever they go. He appealed to Goans to always stay connected to their roots and not sell their houses and land in Goa, but keep their houses and land for future generations.
King Momo, Gregory D'Souza and his Queen, Othelia Fernandes, who is also the Chairperson of the Milton Keynes Goan Community, were also felicitated at the event.
The event was organised by entertainment professionals, Reman Fernandes (musician) and Simon Varella (MC), both with deep ties to the Goan community.
“This event was designed to celebrate and preserve the rich cultural heritage of the Goan Carnival. This year since the Valentine's celebrations coincided with Carnival, we added a bit of the Valentine's romance to the event. Bringing the soul of the Goan Carnival to Milton Keynes and keeping our traditions alive is incredibly important to us," said Simon.
Added Reman: “We wanted to create a space where the local community could connect with our traditions and celebrate them together. It’s not just about music and fun, it's about keeping our culture alive and passing it down to the next generation. We're extremely happy with the success of the event”.
