News: Clarence D'Cruz
Pics: Roshan D'Souza

Houston, Dec 29: Houston Konkan Catholic Association (HKCA) celebrated their annual Christmas Gala on December 9 with  great jubilation and celebration at Ghazal India Cafe in Houston. The guests attending the event at the  splendid venue were given a warm welcome, giveaways, 2024 event calendar and encouraged to take  family photos at a photobooth. 

The guests were given time to settle down and mingle with each other while being treated to a variety  of appetizers such as fish cutlets, beef chilly, chicken 65, gobi manchurian and many more. There were also soft  drinks for guests to help themselves to. Events director and emcee of the evening Merryl Fernandes then started off the proceedings and requested Allen Carvalho to welcome the guests. Allen in his  welcome note, extended a warm welcome to everyone present and asked the crowd to take part and  enjoy themselves. 

Thereafter the new Core Committee (CC) members for 2024-25 were introduced to  everyone. They were welcomed by the old CC in an amusing way by means of a Hawaii flower crown and  funny picture garland of their current corresponding counterparts. New CC president Leslie Mathais  thanked the current CC for the welcome and spoke a few words on behalf of the new CC. Next it was  time for Carol singing by kids namely Abigail Furtado, Aden Mathias, Aiden Dsouza, Anessa Mathias, Ava  Dsouza, Caelan DCruz, Daniel Pinto, Evonne Dsouza, Elissa Farias, Evan Farias, Kien Pattani, Kiera Pattani,  Laura Pinto, Noah Suares, Roma Quadros, Ruth Samuel and Zara Monteiro. The kids sang popular  Christmas carols like ‘Noel, Noel,’ ‘O come all ye faithful,’ ‘We three kings,’ ‘Mary’s boy child’ melodiously accompanied by live instruments and character enacting by a few. There was also a live Indian classical dance choreographed by Kiera Pattani when the carols were sung. This was followed by  another Christmas song session led by adults comprising of Anand Pinto, Allen DSouza, Clarence DCruz  and Neural Farias that had a mix of Konkani and English Christmas numbers like 'Baal Zalmala',  'Barfaso Munees', 'Jingle Bells' and 'Here comes Santa Claus'. As 'Here comes Santa Claus' was  sung, Santa Claus made a surprise appearance and kids followed him mesmerized and overjoyed. Santa  then distributed presents to the kids which were prepackaged by their parents beforehand. There was  also a special prize distributed by Santa which was received by Yamitha Sequeira. 

Then the dance floor was opened, and the crowd were rocked to popular English, Hindi and Konkani  numbers by well-known DJ Gary. Soon it was time for dinner and Grace before meals was said by president Ivan D'Souza and vice president Daniel Sequeira. The food counter was then opened, and the  attendees were treated to a sumptuous dinner consisting of chicken varutha curry, goat kurma, saag  paneer, pulav rice, kerala paratha, pasta and rasmalai. Post dinner Allen Carvalho conducted a lucky  draw of playing cards distributed earlier to each family and gift hampers were given to six lucky winners. The crowd was then divided into teams and a puzzle assembling game was conducted which had a  reference to Mangalurean Christmas tradition. The tradition was kuswar and prizes were given to the  group that first assembled the puzzle. There were also spot prize games conducted and winners received prizes sponsored by Sherosh Delights. 

Ronnie Crasta then gave the vote of thanks wherein he thanked all the members who had attended and  supported the event and requested members to support the new core committee similarly. The dance  session then continued, and the specialty was a Konkani Baila medley played by DJ Gary to which  everyone grooved and danced. The event then gradually drew to a close and people dispersed having  had a good time and a wonderful Christmas Gala celebration. Roshan D’Souza photographed the event.

HKCA has planned many more events for 2024. Anyone interested in joining HKCA can do so by sending details at https://www.hkcaus.org/houston-konkan-catholic-contact-us/.  

The performance of  kids can be seen at https://youtu.be/Vh__Ahw-goQ?si=zLwGPFcZe8VMakK9.

More pictures of the event can be found at:   

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Xk0ZYCQfonf02t0i23ezIpRK-jKWjZFB?usp=sharing