Mega Crowd of All Faith Converge at MLA J R Lobo’s Christmas/New Year Bash
Mega Crowd of All Faith Converge at MLA of Mangaluru South Constituency J R Lobo’s Christmas and New Year Bash/Okkoota. J R Lobo stands- J for Justice; R for Reality and Respectable; L for Leadership and Loving; O for Outstanding; B for Bold and Brave; and O for Orator
Mangaluru: Looking at the large crowd comprising of Christians, Hindus and Muslims who converged at the St Agnes Special School grounds-Bendore, Mangaluru on Saturday, 30th December night to take part in the Christmas and New Year 2018 celebrations and fellowship meal, clearly showed how much MLA J R Lobo is loved by the citizens of Mangaluru. The crowd was predominately mixed with politicians, religious leaders, entrepreneurs, priests, nuns, lawyers, doctors, students, young and old-everyone irrespective of caste and creed joined in the biggest Christmas and New Year Party held by a MLA in a long time.
Even though Christmas feast was celebrated on 25 December, but as they say “Better Late Than Never” MLA J R Lobo hosted the Christmas, together with New Year Party for his well-wishers, supporters, friends, and relatives to spread the message of Christmas- ‘Love, Peace, Harmony and goodwill’ in the community .Christmas is the gentlest, loveliest festival of the revolving year—and yet, for all that, when it speaks, its voice has strong authority.Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we’re here for something else besides ourselves- and also that Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart. And that when Christmas is over and gone, remember that peace, joy, love and goodwill must continue. And for that matter, at this celebration Peace, Joy, Love & Goodwill of Christmas was unleashed to a great extent, where everyone felt that all humans are equal, irrespective of caste and creed- and that they are all Children of God.
The glittering, pomp and exuberance of this celebration commenced with the musical rendition by the “Shaad Musical World” artists who took the audience into the world of music through their Bollywood and Sandalwood songs. As soon as all the dignitaries arrived, the formal function began with the welcome address delivered by Congress leader Kallige Tharanath Shetty, where he highlighted the achievements, achievement and qualities of MLA J R Lobo, and described him as the MLA of all people. To mark the birthday of Jesus Christ a delicious Christmas Cake was cut by the important dignitaries of the occasion namely-Most Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’souza- Bishop of Mangaluru; Swami Jitakamanandaji-President of Ramakrishna Math-Mangaluru; MP Oscar Fernandes; Ustad Abdul Rahimani- Khatib of Mohiudeen Jumma Masjid-Kasba Bengre; Harish Kumar- President, DK Congress Committee; MCC Mayor Kavitha Sanil; Dr Vivek Rai-Former Vice Chancellor, Hampi University; among many other politicians and well-wishers.
In his personal message to all his invitees, MLA J R Lobo said, “I am really happy to see all of you come in large numbers and this will be a memory for keepsake. I cherish all the love and respect that you all have shown towards me, serving you as your MLA for nearly four years. Even though many of my colleagues have left us, but we are still strong. Christmas is all about spreading love, harmony and goodwill- and we should follow these qualities not just during Christmas season, but all year long. It has been a privilege to serve all you good people of this City- and I feel proud to say that Mangaluru has entered on the world map. Even though I have not accomplished in completing all the projects, but I have tried my best to successfully complete quite a few of them. Also feel proud to say that the 3D Planetarium coming up at Pilikula, which is one of its kind in Asia, is a proud moment for all of us. While I am grateful for all your support and love shown to me during my tenure all these years, I also look forward to similar help and support in the years to come. Thank you and appreciate your presence here today”.
In his address Dr Vivek Rai said, “I overwhelmingly cherish my relationship with JR Lobo for decades. J R Lobo is a go-getter, who will do the right job in right time. He is very service oriented, ready to help those in needs- and for that matter, having an MLA like J R Lobo is a blessing for the City, and the citizens should be grateful and also be proud to have an MLA of that calibre and qualities. No doubt Lobo has won the hearts of many already, and we should all make sure to make him our leader in the forthcoming elections too. Just conveying the message of Christmas of love, peace and Harmony by the religious leaders of three faiths during this event is not enough, but we all need to continue those qualities further throughout the years and live in unity”.
Addressing the audience, Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza in his message said, “Former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee whose birthday is also on 25 December like Jesus once said that Jesus Christ is not only of Christians but of everyone. So while celebrating today let us spread the true meaning of Christmas. of Peace, Love and caring- and show the world that it is a feast of all religions. Christmas is a season of love—a celebration of sacrificing what we have to show appreciation to those who mean the most. And while expressing love to another may be the most beautiful thing we can ever do. Wishing you all a blessed and Merry Christmas well in advance”.
Also speaking during the occasion, Swamy Jitakamananda of Rama Krishna Math said, ” Let there be peace on Earth and every other place. We need love our neighbours and others surrounding us. Let us learn to respect others, and forget about hate, disharmony and selfishness. Let us keep our hearts clean and not just our body. Vivekananda was undoubtedly a follower and admirer of Jesus of Christ. Swami Vivekananda had quoted, ‘Jesus Christ was God — the Person God become man. He has manifested Himself many times in different forms and these alone are what you can worship. Christmas indeed brings peace, love and harmony between communities. I am really overwhelmed to be here in this celebration, let us all live in peace, love and harmony”.
Khatib Abdul Rahiman expressing his thoughts said, “Today this programme highlighting harmony, joy and peace has brought us altogether irrespective of religions. We are all children of God, so let us live together in unity and stay away from disharmony, hate and violence. During this blessed season let us spread the message to love one another and maintain peace throughout. Let us follow in the footsteps of our ancestors who had built this nation, and not try to destroy it through hate and violence. ‘Sare jahan se accha Hindustan hamara, hum bulbulain hai is ki, yeh gulsitan hamara’- let us keep our nation that way. D stands for December, and this December let us divorce hate, selfishness, disharmony- and look forward to living in peace and harmony”.
Among the other well-wishers present during today’s mega-celebration were- Fr Antony Serrao- Parish Priest of Bendore Church; Fr J B Crasta- Parish Priest-Rosario cathedral; Sadanand Shetty- Chairman, Sri Devi Education Institutions; Former MCC Mayor Shashidar Hegde; Vishwadas- President, North Block Congress Committee; Former INTUC president-Adyanthaya; among many others. Minister Ramanath Rai who arrived late also delivered his message and complimented JR Lobo for his achievements and service to the community, and asked the community to live in peace and harmony. Harish Kumar proposed the vote of thanks, which was followed by the lucky coupon draw, which a person won Rs 5000 cash and other goodies. The formal function ended with more musical performance by Shaad Musical World, along with a sumptuous dinner. The entire function was professionally compered by S M Khalid. A short film on the journey of J R Lobo named ” Nanna Jana, Nanna Shethra” (My People, My Constituency) was shown to the audience, which received a loud applause.
In conclusion, Let this Christmas be a meaningful Christmas. Consumerism and materialism in form of joyous celebration is not wrong, but if we celebrate without understanding the true essence of Christmas, the entire merrymaking of Christmas is futile. May Christmas season brings a new freshness, a new hope and a new strength today and through this New Year! And let us all support MLA J R Lobo for all the good work and sacrifice for the community he has done all these four years- and let us support him and retain him as elect and retain him as our leader in the forthcoming election. Long Live J R Lobo!
” J R Lobo stands- J for Justice; R for Reality and Respectable; L for Leadership and Loving; O for Outstanding; B for Bold and Brave; and O for Orator”
Is this a report or a propaganda? The author, known for lecturing Hindus on Deepavali, seems to have forgotten all about poor people, noise pollution and other social causes. Going by his earlier logic, why waste so much electricity, money and time on these things when we can spend it on poor? Did he ever ask Mr.Lobo on his absence in ‘mangaluru sachcha’ campaign?