Udupi: ICYM Mount Rosary win Yuva Mell-gadya khell and ICYM Pamboor bags Runners trophy

By Alphonse Mendonsa
Bellevision Media Network

Kuntalnagar/Udupi, 07 Sep 2015: In a overall performance ICYM Mount Rosary Kallyanpur were declared the champs of Yuva Mell Gadya Khell organized by ICYM Kuntalnagar on 6th September 2015 whereas the ICYM Pamboor walked away with the Runners Trophy.

 

The whole day unique festival of folk games was organized by ICYM Unit Kuntalnagar in association with the Udupi Diocesan and Deanery Youth Commission. The paddy fields were donated by local Shetty family namely Shymala and Kumuda Shetty who were honoured on the occasion for their generous help to organize this massive youth festival.

 

The Festival was flagged off by Ms. Ida Gibba D’Souza – Udupi Jilla Panchyat Member from Kuntalnagar St. Antony Church compound and then the long colourful procession took place with all the teams of wards from Udupi, Shirva, Kallaynpur, Kundapur and Karkal. It was a treat to watch the wonderful procession accompanied with bike procession, tradition band and drums by Nasik Bank Kallaynpur.

 

 

Antony Mendonsa, President ICYM Kuntalnagar welcomed the gathering and Rev. Fr. Denis D’Sa Parish Priest accorded a warm welcome to all the dignitaries on the dais namely: Msgr. Baptist Menezes Vicar General of Diocese of Udupi, Fr Lawrence D’Souza, Secretary of Catholic Education Society; Fr Fred Mascharenas, Vicar Forane, Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi; Ranjani Hegde, President Belle Gram Panchayat; Geetha Rama, President of Manipur Gram Panchayat; Valerian Mathias, Vice-President of Parish Pastoral council Kuntalnagar; Nelson D’Souza, Secretary, Parish Pastoral Council, Kuntalnagar; Fr Edwin D’Souza, Director of Youth Commission; Derick Mascarenhas, President of ICYM, Diocese of Udupi. Fr. Denis D’Sa thanked whole heartedly to ICYM Kuntalnagar Unit for their dedication and determination in preparing since a month for the grand festival. Though their number is only 33, they have shown that they can organize the diocese level programs. He said “Hats off to you guys, well done.”

 

The festival began with a prayer invoking Gods Blessings for the programme and was inaugurated by Vinay Kumar Sorake, Honrable Minister, Urban Development and Minister in-charge of the district along with Msgr Baptist Menezes, Vicar General of Diocese of Udupi.

 

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Sorake said that God is very kind to all the participants as he has bestowed them with a beautiful cloudy day and provided a cool day for the games to enjoy. Also he said agriculture is a part of our life and it gives us life and we must involve ourselves in respecting the pady fields and the grains which grow and nourish us. It is nice to see that today youth are organizing great many events that nurture and safeguard our culture.

 

Msgr. Baptist Menezes in his presidential address said that his entire youth he spent in the pady field until he joined the seminary. They had 40 acres of land and they cultivated all the crops throughout the year. Today it feels great that the youth are involved in these traditional games which brings everyone closure to the nature. He wished them all the best for the games.

 

Later, Vinay Kumar Sorake declared games open by hoisting the ICYM flag and declared accompanied by Fr. Denis D’Sa.

 

Flavia, Secretary of ICYM Kuntalnagar, delivered the vote of thanks.

 

 

It was a fun filled day as participants as well supporters enjoyed all type of games in the pady fields such as Phyramid, Relay, different type of races, volley ball, through ball and the most exiting were the tug-of-war between different ward parishioners. Even the kids enjoyed strolling and swimming in the nearby stream.

 

HE Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo presided over the valedictory function and concluding ceremony. Fr. Denis D’Sa accorded a warm welcome on his arrival. Rev. fr. Jerome Monteiro, Parish Priest of Miyar Parish also attended the games. Bishop in his concluding note thanked and praized all youth for organizing and participating nature loving games. He also highlighted Pope Francis’s concern about nature and requested the youth to protect the nature. He said: You have organized these games which show the strength and power of youth and utlize your strength to safe guard the nature Further he said Nature is our mother and we all must love her and protect her always.

 

Antony Mendonsa – President ICYM Kuntalnagar proposed vote of thanks. Derrick Mascarenhas, President ICYM Udupi Diocese compared the concluding ceremony.

 

All the winners of different catagories were honoured with mementos by Bishop Gerald Lobo and final trophies or winners and runners up which bagged by ICYM units of Mount Rosary Church Kallaynpur and Pamboor were handed over by the Bishop.