St. Joseph’s Cathedral celebrates Silver Jubilee of Christmas Bazar

By Alphonse Mendonsa, Team Mangalorean
Bellevision Media Network

Abu Dhabi, 09 December 2011: It was a day of great grand celebration as it was this day 25 years ago the foundation was laid for the Christmas Bazar for the first time celebration in 1987.  The idea was conceived by Noville D’Souza (who was present for the Silver Jubilee – currently lives in Canada) and a few others and paid all dividends and today it is one of the most celebrated event in Abu Dhabi.  Today the whole day event is celebrated with great devotion, grandeur and fervor to the fullest capacity crowd wherein more 100 nationalities get-together and organize this event in a family atmosphere.  The festivity is filled with loads of fun, games, raffles and most importantly variety of delicacies especially from Mangalore, Goa and Kerala.  A large number of people are crowded with these food stalls, savoring variety of break-fast such as Idli-wada, upma, dosa, gollibaje and lunch items such as Mangalorean/Goan specialty Dukra-Mas, Sorpotel, Vindalu, choris-pav and  Kabab items.  Also it was time to taste a few varieties from Arabic and Italian delicacies.   Though it was a simple beginning in 1987, today it is a very grand celebration  and big event for the catholic community of Abu Dhabi wherein a million crowd attends and enjoys every games, stage programs, magic shows, DJ music, pop and classical songs, dances, stalls of games, raffle draws, food, fun, and above all interaction with each other… as a single family affair with Santa Clause joining and blessing and giving away the gifts and sweets to the little ones.

 

 

 

 

 

This year the celebrations began with MC Perviz D’Souza welcoming the community and inviting all the dignitaries on the stage for the inauguration of Great Grand Silver Jubilee of Christmas Bazar namely Fr. Savarimuthu (Parish Priest), Fr. Lennie Connuly (Vicar General), and other priests of the parish Fr. Mathew, Fr. Gondalf, Fr. Peter , Sr. Carmelita (Principal, St. Joseph’s School) and along with Dolpy Vaz (Gen Co-ordinator of Christmas Bazar)l, Mr. John Conrad D’Souza (Vice President – Parish Pastoral Council) all set for the inauguration of festival.  A beautiful Christmas dance was performed by little children and wished all A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.  All the dignitaries on dais were felicitated with floral bouquets by Dolphy Vaz and two persons who attended the first Christmas bazar and provided their services through out these 25 years i.e. Ms. Joyce Rego and Mr. Peter Cherbel were felicitated for their selfless service to Christmas Bazar and community at large.

 

Fr. Lennie extended his warm greetings to all community and requested them to participate fully In the day long festivity and spend for the cause of charity.  To commemorate the 25 years of great event 25 Balloons were lifted high on sky by all those gathered on the stage.  Fr. Christmas (Santa clause arrived this year on a motor bike were usually he arrives in Abu Dhabi on a Camel and he said it was quite exiting and as in the modern world speed is the key and he has adapted himself to travel all around the world by the quickest means possible no more reindeer sleigh .  He greeting community members and wished them all Merry Christmas in several languages.

 

Neville D’Souza the founder of Christmas Bazar was happy to be back on stage wherein he had emceed almost 20 bazars himself.  He was exited to be part of Silver Jubilee Celebration and narrated to Santa clause (Mr. Nolasco Abraeu) when asked how the idea of Christmas bazar was conceived by three members of community at his residence and today he is very happy that this is one of the most important celebrations at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Abu Dhabi.  He also said he was able to collect and donate Dhs. 87,000 during first Christmas bazar and donated the whole amount for charity purposes.  We wished all gather happy fest and requested them to enjoy the bazar.  DJ Avito and DJ Rudy entertained the crowd with Bollywood and Hollywood numbers on requests.

 

Among all food and other games stalls, there were two raffle draws held one more Kia car and one for Nano.  Kia car prize was for the entry tickets and Nano car by Konkani Prayer group sponsored by Mr. Walter Almeida of Regal Furnishing and storage systems.  The Konkani Prayer group also held raffle draw for several grand items, such a digital TV, a few laptops, wrist watches for which lot was taken every hour and winners were given away with valuable prizes straight away.

 

As the day passed, the crowed swelled and was full to the capacity by 7pm when the evening entertainment programme began a musical instrumental from Royal Music of arts and various dances by various communities. Included kollywood, Bollywood dances.

 

Prior to the announcing the lucky draws for the entry tickets a beautiful tabloid was presented by God’s flock Choir.   Dolphy Vaz the (Gen. Coordinator) proposed vote of thanks included Parish Priest fr. Muthu, all the fathers, all the community leaders, sponsors, volunteers, sound-system (Broadway) and media.

 

The 20 entry coupons were drawn for the lucky winners of various electronic and other valuable items and a KEY CAR for the grand prize.

 

Also draw was held for Grand Prize in the Konkani Prayer group stall.  Fr. Muthu picked up the lucky ticket and the Nano car went to Miss. Iline Luzana.  Mr. Walter Almeida (Sponsor of the Car) gave away the lucky key to Miss. Luzana accompanied by his wife Thelma and son.  The draw was organized one of the prominent leader of KPG Lancy D’Souza (Also a member of M.Com and Pearls of Mangalore).