Sharjah: St Michaels Mangalorean Konkani Community (SMMKC) hosted a vibrant community picnic on 22 April which was Eid Holiday in the UAE. The picnic was held in Sharjah National Park and the beautiful weather made it a perfect day for an outdoor community event. It was attended by around 400 Konkani-speaking people of all ages who came together to enjoy a moment of fun and bonding. The community was first warmly welcomed by the newly elected community coordinator Alwyn Coutinho. The event was then inaugurated with prayers, blessings and a brief speech by the SMMKC spiritual director Fr Denis Saldanha OFM Cap.

SMMKC hosts vibrant community picnic in Sharjah National Park One of the event’s key highlights was the games played throughout the day. Mr Roshan Dsilva and his team hosted these with high energy and cheer. The community was split into 6 groups for games and each group participated with great enthusiasm and friendly competition. The games committee ensured that every age group ie. children, adults and senior citizens were included. Games such as Tug of War, Moonwalk, lemon and spoon race, chocolate race, and senior citizen musical chairs, to name a few, were highly popular and enjoyed by all. A Bible quiz was also conducted to challenge participants on the scriptures. This was a great way for people to test their knowledge and learn something new simultaneously. The groups also sharpened their acting skills and participated in skit competitions which were enjoyed by one and all.

The other highlight of this picnic was the traditional Mangalorean dishes served throughout the day for breakfast, lunch and tea. A delightful spread of idli, wada sambhar, kadala manoli, kuvalo polov, chicken sukka and Mangalorean buns were served which were a hit with everyone.

The event ended with a vote of thanks and prize distribution by the outgoing community coordinator Ronald Dsouza. The SMMKC core committee, various volunteers as well as organizers were proud to have hosted such a successful event. The community left with high spirits looking forward to more such events in the future.