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KEMMANNU UTSAV 2022 - A perfect family entertainer to celebrate & conclude the parish feast….

On 16th February 2022, the parishioners of Kemmannu Church celebrated their patron – St Theresa of Little Flower Annual Feast with all solemnity and divinity as they gathered in large number to thank Almighty Lord for all favours and blessings bestowed through her benevolent care throughout the year. Rev Fr Chetan Lobo PRO of the Diocese con-celebrated the Holy Eucharist with priests of the Deanery and neighborhood and few guest priests from the town at 10.30 am. Once all had their festal lunch with family, friends and relatives at noon, over the years, it was a regular practice to have a Konkani or Tulu drama in olden days enacted by the local talents. However, in these changing times, it was the popular hired troupe giving their performance, and most of the time Tulu plays, which attracted all in the locality, irrespective of caste or religion.

To give a break to this routine practice, the popular ‘Kemmannu.com website’ and its offshoots such as ‘Kemmannu YouTube Channel’ organised a beautiful ‘Kemmannu Utsav 2022’ a wholesome entertainment package, to enthrall the audience to the zenith.

At 7.OO pm sharp, Mrs Veronica Cornelio a popular and visible personality of this beautiful town Kemmannu announced a thrilling evening will be waiting for all to involve and celebrate…..To begin the one neatly organised Musical Nite with skits, a short stage programme was meticulously arranged to introduce the organisers Kemmannu.com - once a dream of few like-minded people way back in 2005, now after 17 great years, undoubtedly developed and grown to be a identity tag of Kemman-gar to world at large…..
Once the honorabl guests were escorted to the dais led by Mr Thomas DSouza - viz Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Victor DSouza, Diocesan Director of Small Christian Communities Rev Fr Herald Pereira, a popular and resident priest in Kemmannu, Vice President of the parish pastoral Council Mr Charles Lewis, Superior of the Carmelite Convent Sr. Nivedita took their seats of honour, in his brief Welcome address remembered his nostalgic years of active participation in 90’s and later his involvement as one of the pioneering torch bearers of the Kemmannu website in 2005, which he continues till today…….!

Vicar Fr Victor DSouza lighted the traditional lamp, with guests to inaugurate the ‘Kemmannu Utsav 2022’ and in his message conveyed festal greetings to all who were present and specially those parishioners watching the event online across the planet. While thanking the main sponsors of the event Team Kemmannu.com. he lauded the untiring efforts of this group in the growth of the parish community, which now grown to be brand name for all Kemmannu residents…..he also took the opportunity to wish all the best to performing artists of the day…..

Fr Herald Pereira in his typical style conveyed his greetings of the day to all gathered. ‘To start a tradition its always easy and to keep it going and growing not so but challenging……these days rightly belong to media….Kemmannu .com not only weathered the difficult past but matured in every possible way to be professional and preserved its goodwill intact but also gave birth to few offshoots like ‘Kemmannu You Tube Channel’ etc. He thanked everyone associated with it and wished all the very best in their future assignments….

The main convenor and brain behind the ‘Kemmannu Live Channel’ Vivek Cornelio gave a brief historical background of the website which was started by Richard Crasto in 2005 and later handed over baton to enthusiastic team comprising of Brian Menezes, Vijay Saldanha and Alex George Lewis  – all doing a free and honorary exemplary service only for the love and passion for their home-town Kemmannu, not anticipating nothing in return materially, except to live to its motto – views to share and hearts to care.

He continued to inform the audience that, the Kemmannu Channel was floated at a difficult time of Covid 19 pandemic about two years ago with a sole intention to live-telecast funerals - as travel restrictions, inconvenience and ban on participating in the final rites which became totally one isolated ritual….Credit rightly goes to KC to reach-out to distant relatives and succeeded in offering a decent burial and last respects and most importantly a last glimpse of mortal remains of loved one’s……Thus far team registered a record of handling 75 funerals, which were live streamed and about 15 Weddings during these difficult days, with startling success rate of 99 percent. Its back-up management, youngsters’ involvement, attending, mobilising and arranging the on the spot their flexibility and most importantly respecting sentiments of the bereaved families…. earned them great reverence in the society.

rganisers took the opportunity to remember all generous hands and genius minds in its journey of 17 wonderful years and presented with mementos. When the names were announced the spectators acknowledged the same with thunderous applause to authenticate the same….. especially – the Founders of the Website Richard Crasto, The Kemmannu Flowers in UAE, veterans in Thomas DSouza, Arvin Quadrus and family, Naveen Sequeira (Past Web Master), Stephen DSouza (Current web master) and many others……. and all who continued to take the site to next level of popularity and recognition under the present Editorial Head Alex George Lewis, who is rightly known for integrity and impartiality and accommodation….!

All the reporters / photographers too were appreciated for their small role in the great success story – Richard DSouza, Kallianpur, Rons Bantwal, Archibald Furtado, Barkur too were offered with mementos on this glorious occasion.

One of the positive features, rather secret behind this spectacular success and growth registered by the team, undoubtedly due to the perennial participation of youth in the website and live channel – Jaypraksh Kini, Ashley Baretto, Jenisha Jarnis, Asher Lewis, Sunny Anthony DSouza, VRun Cornelio, Alden, Relwin Furtado and many more who follow the elders in dedication and giving the best end product to the regular visitors on a daily / hourly updates.

Much awaited Kemmannu Utsav was given a thrilling start by the all rounder and frequent presenter in the Little Flower Hall, who claimed to have variety of functions over the years, about 48 to be exact - a well-known TV host   Alwyn Danthy took charge. Zeena Pereira handpicked ‘Mog’ to be the curtain raiser followed by an all time popular hit ‘Roselyn Mojya Mogachen…..’

In his knowledge treasure, Emcee recalled the contributions of stalwarts of Kemmannu town and Kemmannu.com – a tiny place with distinct credits – which owns a quality website, TV Channel, unique priests to lead and inspire, at times a point to envy for people from larger towns and parishes – a feature in the cap of shining crown of its achievements……!

Once Zeena for some ardent music lovers rightly she is Lorna of Mangalore, was back with Kanthar Karun, at her best. Then the laughter bombs exploded by formidable trios – Alwyn, Sujatha – Steven of The Expressions. It is a speciality of this prizewinning team, even one seen, heard or known the jokes, you feel like watching them live again and again…..!!

The local singing pair Ida & Melvyn Fernandes were given a resounding reception by the audience as they presented “Chandnyache Ratin Madacha Savller..” followed by Joel Attur’s Wilma Mojya Wilma composed by Vincy Bantwal was an instant hit with youngsters. Teenager daughter Ishney Fernnandes Chandamama, Raya Mogacha Raya too was received with nonstop claps by the packed hall.

It’s the knack and beauty of the compeer to involve audience in singing and dancing as the two hours of variety entertainments kept the onlookers glued to their seats, asking for dil maange more….!!

It was the great and dedicated effort of talented musicians and singers in – Wedson DSouza, Prajwal Fronteiro, Patson Pereira, Nester DSouza and team Silver tones Band…… and of course the best sounds system to support the even rightly deserve our appreciations and thanks to keep the spirits high throughout the show….

We leave this space here exclusively for you to comment after watching the live event once again which will be in the You Tube Archives of Kemmannu Channel.

It was really feast for spiritual nourishment in the morning in the Church, followed by feast Lunch at noon with family and friends and in the evening it is relaxing to both mind and body together with a mixed bag of entertainment - as all were dancing in the hall to the popular Baila chain of songs to conclude the celebrations……!!