Media Release

Chicago, June 28:  The Mangalorean Konkan Christian Association (MKCA), USA celebrated “Konkan fest-2008” at Courtland Square, Des Plaines, Illinois. This program reflected unique Mangalorean cultural extravaganza. This is the third time this kind of mega-event was convened but second time various competitions were held to preserve and promote rich Mangalorean cultural heritage.  No other Association of Mangalorean Konkan Christian origin has ever ventured to hold multitude of competitions in any program in US.  The MKCA president Lawrence Mascarenhas welcomed the judges of the program, guests and members. The program started with food competition, followed by singing and fancy dress competition.

It was a feast of food and one of the judges called it “The Taste of Mangalore”.  There were about 23 variety of food items and all of them were homemade by the contestants. There were four categories for the competition – appetizer, main course, dessert, and side dish. Sheila Fernandes from Kuwait, Concy Misquita and James Saldanha were the judges for the food competition. Judges had extensive background not only in preparation of authentic Mangalorean food, but also tasting it as well! Event Chairperson Stany D’Souza introduced the judges to the audience and the competition started.  Contestants’ names were kept secret and the food items were marked with code numbers.  Items like Chicken Sukka, Chicken Qubera, Chicken 65, Chicken Curry with Coconut Juice, Pork Baphaad, Mango Curry, Pork Indaad, Thendlim Sukka, Moong Sukka, Dhahi Vada, Sannam, Batate Vada, Shevio, Vorn - just to name a few, were among the typical Mangalorean dishes. It seems the judges had a hard time to judge the competition because of too many variety of food, or perhaps, concern about gaining a few extra pounds of weight! The food competition winners are as follows:

Main Course category – First place – Lilly Fernandes (Chicken Sukka) and second place Florine Rodrigues (Chicken Curry)

Side Dish category – First place – Vissia D’Souza (Mango Curry) and second place Mercy Concesso (Pork Indaad)

Appetizer category – First place – Dorothy Rego (Dhahi Vada) and second place Alphonce Mascarenhas (Sannam) and Luella Mascarenhas (Shevio)

Dessert category – First place – Loretta Rodrigues (Vorn) and second place Queenie Mendonca (Russian Pudding)

All the attendees watched the judges tasting variety of appetizers prepared by the contestants. Judges took their own time savoring the delicious dishes and some members were quite worried whether they would get their share!  But to their surprise, there was enough for everyone!  At the other corner, there was an open bar managed by Jossie Mendonca. 

Winners of the Singing and Fancy Dress competitions are as follows:

Singing competition – Age Group 1-6: Solo – Samantha Concesso, first and Nayan Menezes, second. Age group 7-12: Solo – Crystal Rodrigues, first, Duet – Shawn and Shannon D’Souza first. Age group 18 and above – Solo – Alphonce Mascarenhas, first and Ligoury Martis, second; Duet – Mercy and Denzil concesso, first and Jossie and Queenie Mendonca, second; Group – Denzil Concesso & party first.

Fancy Dress Competition – Age group 1-6: Solo – Merwyn D’Souza first and   Godlyn D’Souza,  second; duet – Merwyn D’Souza and Godlyn D’Souza.   Age group 7-12 Solo – Lloyd Quadros, first.  Age group 13 – 17:  Shawn D’Souza, first and Angel D’Souza, second;  Duet – Joey Mendonca and Shawn D’Souza, first.  Group:  Jason Mendonca and party.  Age group 18 and above – Solo – Mercy Concesso, first, Jossie Mendonca, second. Duet – Denzil and Mercy Concesso first and Queenie and Jossie Mendonca, second.

The attendees cherished the wonderful dinner presented by the members and items presented by the food competitors.  The dinner was arranged and managed by Mark Rodrigues and Lawrence Mascarenhas. 

There was impromptu singing by the audience present followed by skits presented by following groups:  “New Indian on the Block” - Presented by Angel D’Souza, Joey Mendonca, Shawn D’Souza, Shannon D’Souza and Jason Mendonca.  “Dollachi Kaddakh Cha” - Presented by Denzil Concesso, Jossie Mendonca and Stany D’Souza.

All the winners received their colorful trophies and certificates.  The MKCA’s Legal Advisor and famous Civil Lawyer in Chicagoland, Amarante Carvalho awarded the prizes. Carvalho praised the mammoth efforts endured by the MKCA members in arranging this mega-event.  He encouraged and advised the members present to provide their staunch support in MKCA’s effort in preserving and promoting rich Mangalorean cultural heritage.  He congratulated all the winners and participants for their commitment and dedication

Stany D’Souza, the chairperson of the Konkan Fest, thanked all the judges, participants of the competitions and all the guests. He specially thanked everyone who worked behind the scene in preparing food and making all the arrangements for the success of the program. He also thanked Austin Prabhu for wonderfully compeering the program.

As a part of Mangalorean tradition in concluding the program, the entire audience took part in singing Laudathe.

Anita and Atina D’Souza were the DJ’s for the program who helped the program run smoothly.