PANAJI
Amid Corona-19 pandemic that has snatched the smiles and laughter out of people’s lives, the grand finale of a stand-up-comedy contest held at Ravindra Bhavan Margao offered a series of humourous presentations by the participants across Goa who kept the audience amused from start to end of the show on a Sunday evening. The contest, ‘All Goa Lions Hasya Samrat 2020’ was organized by the International Association of Lions Clubs of Region IX District 317B in association with Margao Ambulance Trust and Ravindra Bhavan Margao, was a fundraiser for a noble cause, ‘Hospital on Wheels’.
The grand finale saw around 15 semi-finalist contestants, and three winners. The first prize of Rs 10,000 was bagged by Dattaraj Phondekar, the second prize (Rs 5,000) was pocketed by Kenny Fernandes while the third prize (Rs 3,000) went to Vaibhav Kavalekar. All the participants received a certificate and the three winners were given a trophy along with the prizes and a certificate.
While appreciating the concept of the stand-up-comedy contest, Digambar Kamat, ex-chief minister of Goa and Margao MLA, stated that this was a good experiment for a noble cause. “Laughter is a good medicine and one must consume it regularly and in large doses to remain healthy,” said Kamat who also recalled the history of the initiation of the Margao Ambulance Trust in 1988 as himself a part of the team, then.
“Hospital on Wheels is the need of the hour and raising funds for this cause was a kind gesture from the nine Lions Clubs from Region IX, District 317B which will help taking health to the doorsteps of the common man in the remote areas of the State,” stated Kamat. Among the many projects initiated by the Lions Club of Margao are blood bank, recreational centre for the senior citizens and wheelchair for the specially abled, and hospitals on wheels will also be successfully implemented, hoped the Margao MLA.
On the occasion, Lions Club Regional Chairperson Vividh Pawaskar, Zone Chairperson Adrian Torres, 1st Vice District Governor of District 317B Lion Prof Shrikant More, Organising Committee Chairperson Digambar Kamat, secretary Shainaz Shariff, treasurer Damodar Borkar, Margao Ambulance Trust president Santosh Raiturkar and members Dr Chandrakant Hiremath, Harish Rao, Harshad Nayak, Krishnaji Bagali, Rajendra Malkarnekar, Joaquim Gonsalves, Sandip Tuyekar, Joseph D’Costa were present. Kiran Kulkarni and Naresh Godge compered the event, while Vishnu Shirodkar and Deepak Manerikar accompanied with the musical instruments.
Among the three juries, Saidatta Kamat, an entrepreneur and a stand-up comedian himself, Paresh Parab, a Prudent Media journalist popular for his show ‘Just Imagine’ that exhibits wild imaginations about famous personalities and major events or happenings in and around Goa, with satirical flavour and Sai Panandikar, a writer, director, composer and lyricist, Saidatta Kamat and Paresh Parab performed stand-up-comedy and entertained the audience. Sai Panandikar also spoke on the occasion. Shainaz Shariff gave a vote of thanks. The event that witnessed a moderate audience, was attended by eminent personalities from across the State.
