GOA GOAN FESTIVAL – SUNDAY 27TH JULY 2008

The Goan Festival, an annual event for the community started in 1983, was held this year on Sunday 27th July. The Festival held in the grounds of Archbishop Lanfranc School, Mitcham Road, Croydon, was attended by a large number of Goans. The purpose of this annual festival is to promote the Goan culture, with members of the Goan Community travelling from various parts of the UK to be there.
 
The festivities started with a Holy Mass concelebrated by Fr Francis Rosario our Goan Chaplain, with other priests from the Pilar Mission in Mitcham. No doubt, divine intervention played a big part in ensuring that the community was blessed with glorious sunshine and blue skies. Those who attended were steeped in the aura of song and music, with people swaying to the enchanting rhythms emanating from the speakers. The crowd watched with fascination, the fashion show depicting dress style through the ages, Cultural dances and 'tiatr' (Konkani drama) performed on the day.

Goan food and other wares from Goa brought delight to the taste buds. Children were not omitted as there was a bouncy castles and hoopla stall amongst others too.  Our young men and women were in their element as they tried out “speed dating” with pleasant encounters experienced by some.    This eagerly awaited event allows people to meet old friends, at the same time showing off their colourful attire which provided fashion galore.

The Festival ended at 7.00pm and as the people left, many favourble comments were overheard with promises to meet again next year.

The GOA Stall

                             

Fashion Show Dancers

Fashion Show Participants

For more photographs please click on the link below - kindly provided by Alex Rocha.

 
http://alex.letsjustdoit.co.uk/goanfestival08/