The Goan diaspora across the UK and France organised various events to celebrate Easter. Lui Godinho provides a roundup of some of these events at Aberdeen, Southampton, South London and Swindon in the UK and Paris in France.
Golden Goa Association, Southampton (GGAS), a leading community organisation of the Goan community in the south of England, organised the Easter Dance at St Boniface Church Hall, Shirley, Southampton on April 9 from 1 pm to 5.30 pm.
The unique community event was a totally free entry extravaganza where food, including an assortment of snacks and desserts along with drinks, was on the house. Goans and people from diverse communities came dressed in colourful national costumes.
DJ Zack (Zaki Sheikh), hailing from Bicholim was the main entertainer who rocked the event with his Konkani music.
GGAS President RJ Roque Vaz conceptualised and compèred the entire event. Awaaz 99.8 FM, which airs the popular ‘Konkani Uloi London Fuloi’ every week was the media partner.
The theme of the event was ‘Community Cooking’, wherein amateur and talented Goan chefs prepared popular main dishes like Sorpotel (Bihula Vaz), Goan Peas Pulao (Michelle Coutinho D’Souza), Chicken Curry (Alex D’Costa), Choneacho Ros (Rita Borges), Goan Stew (Bosco Wangstone Dias), Chilli Con Carne (Alcina Fernandes), Italian Pasta (Dina De Souza) and Carrot Halwa (Ramona D’Costa) and many other dishes from different countries.
Besides, people from various cultural backgrounds brought along delicious snacks and desserts. Drinks and Easter eggs were sponsored by Sheldon Braganza, while Anushka Ponniah sponsored the traditional Hot Cross Buns.
On the occasion, different spot prizes were awarded and the prize winners were Sydney Alvares and Felecidade Gomes (Best Dressed Couple) and Britney Dias (Best Dancing Child).
The Easter Egg Hunt was won by Serona D’Costa and the prize was sponsored by GGAS Vice President Assumpta D’Costa.
The highlight of the event was the vibrant Goa Easter Queen 2023 Contest. Contestants from different nationalities, including Goans, participated with great zeal and energy. Sheldon Braganza and Felecidade Gomes were the judges.
Compere RJ Roque Vaz asked the contestants different questions to test their confidence, charm and communication.
Glanice Nazareth was crowned the Goa Easter Queen 2023 and bagged a special Easter hamper, sponsored by GGAS General Secretary Bihula Vaz and a kitchen blender sponsored by the association.
The ceremonial Easter cake, sponsored by Nivedita Roberts, was cut by the Parish Priest Fr Tom Kleinschmidt along with assistant parish priest Fr Godwin Kambai, who both prayed for everyone.
Later, a bingo and raffle were organised and a sum of £ 300 was raised, which was given as an Easter gift to all three parish priests of St Boniface Church, Southampton. Each priest received £100 each, namely Fr Tom, Fr Godwin and Fr Jufel Baldado. The GGAS maintained the tradition of gifting collection to the parish priests on Easter Sunday.
The event was a result of the combination of volunteers and large-hearted sponsors. Joe Valent Braganza was the main sponsor of the event.
