Report: Shodhan Prasad
Photos: Ramesh Suvarna

Dubai, Feb 1: Members of the Billawas Community gathered at Zabeel Park, Dubai on Friday January 24 and concluded 'Family Picnic' as a part of their annual programme for 2014.

Members came in from all over UAE as the programme started in the morning hours.

President Jeetendra Suvarna inaugurated the programme and requested the members for a one minute silent prayer for the peace for the departed soul of Babitha Karkera, who recently died in Abu Dhabi in a tragic accident.  Hailing from Mulki she is left behind her husband Rohit Karkera and two children.
 
Various games were arranged for children and for couples, men, bachelors and ladies.  The daylong Picnic event had lots of surprises and gifts.  Special attraction of the day was a stall of homemade breakfast dishes like Kori Pundi, Iretha Adya, Idli Sambar, Bread Omlet, Masala Tea, Fruits, Chips and Juices which were served to the crowd who enjoyed every bit of it. The whole idea and arrangement was specially by one of the active member Satish Ullal and their team.  Lunch was served in the afternoon.

Following are the names of the teams and winners:-

Teams:
Red - Captain Manoj Bolar.
Purple - Captain Manjula Nagraj.
Orange - Captain Ganesh Kotian.
White - Captain Sneha Krishna Poojary.
 
The winning team was Red Band and runner up is Purple Band
 
Games:
Dodge the ball, Longest chain line using things worn by the team members, Quiz, Balloon tower, Water bucket filling race
 
Couple games
Carrying wife and running, Cricket, Orange race
 
Children games
Sack race, Balloon race
and finally Bingo Game

At the end president Jeetendra Suvarna addressed the crowd and explained them about the Education scholarship distribution for the needy students back home in India, and the charity works Billawas Dubai doing successfully for the past 15 years. He requested all the members to keep supporting this noble cause every time in the future.

Many new Billawa members joined the picnic this year and it was nice to see all of them introducing themselves to the crowd and assuring of their attendance for the rest of the programmes in the future.