The Goan Overseas Association (GOA) NSW celebrated Goa and all things Goan with its annual WORLD GOA DAY event on Sunday, 17 August 2014, at St Benedict’s Church Hall, Smithfield. The GOA NSW has been organising this event since 2006.
This year Mother Nature also came to the party and provided the attendees with typical Goan monsoon showers. The showers did not dampen the Goan spirit and there was a house full of over 450 young and old enjoying the many culinary delights and music.
Authentic Goan food will coax a Goan to travel many a mile and a record of 11 specialty food stalls whetted the taste buds of every attendee with delicacies like Sorpotel , Chorice Pao , Recheado Bangdo, Alle Belle, Goa Sausages, Bebinca, Doce and Dodol. It was a foodie’s delight.
The theme this year was “GOA – a land of pristine Beaches” with each stall-holder assigned an aptly named, famous Goan beach. This transported many people to their childhood days with walks along Calangute, Baga, Anjuna, Colva, Dona Paula to eat some traditional Goan food.
Malcolm Britto and Roy Rosario of Margao fame entertained the gathering with their music. The Mandos, Dekhnis and other Konkani songs had everyone toe tapping, getting up to dance or simply making you feel you were at a beach in Goa, Feni in hand, palms swaying enjoying the Goan music. The “open mic” day drew a number of X-Factor contestants who gave the community a few good old favourites.
There was also a traditional BINGO & RAFFLE. The Bingo had everyone participating with the usual – “anyone sweating” and “false alarms”. The full house was won by 92-year-old Rita.
The festivities of World Goan Day can be viewed on www.facebook.com/GOA.NSW.Australia or on http://www.goansw.org/
Published in The Indian Sun, Sydney
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