Oman: Muscat Mogaveers (MM) Koota organized their third event of the year “Family Fun Day Out” at the Silver Ring Farmhouse in Barka recently. The spacious and beautiful farmhouse with clean and well maintained facilities was apt for the huge crowd of gathered MM families and bachelors. The committee members had organized all arrangements to drive the full day activities of this event with fun and entertainment for one and all.
The registration counter started at 9 am as scheduled and was pleasantly managed by Rajesh Salian, Jyoti Shivaram, Manoj Puthran and Yashwanth Mendon. All MM ladies were greeted with Tulunadu’s traditional Mallige flowers specially flown from Mangalore, arranged by Sahana Girish.
Vandana Padmakar Mendon, who was the Master of Ceremony of the day, welcomed all the members and families and assured a fun filled day for the community members. The event started off with Chaitra Ashok Kotian rendering a devotional prayer song in her melodious voice evoking the prime deity to bless everyone present. This was followed by Dr Shekar Salian’s (President of MM Koota) short speech. In his key note address, he accentuated the importance of organizing such community gatherings which would serve to familiarize and flourish bonhomie with the community brethren in Muscat, where it’s not possible for all to meet regularly.
Dr Shekar Salian also announced that MM Koota had come a long and successful way in Muscat and will be proudly conducting its silver jubilee celebration on 27th November, 2015. The organizing committee has started preliminary discussion and preparation for this prestigious event to be held grandly in Muscat. Among many activities being planned for this event, the release of the maiden MM Koota souvenir was discussed. A brief presentation about this souvenir was given by Suresh Kunder which was well supported by the Vice President Ramanand Kunder.
Some enthusiastic MM members overwhelmingly booked their spaces to sponsor their family pictures to be published in this memorable souvenir.
The day’s event then proceeded with self-introduction of members and their families to the gathering which was pleasingly conducted by Vandana Mendon. Immediately after the introduction, fun games were organized by Sharath Kumar and his team members Roopa Umesh and Sahana Girish Kanchan assisted by Heema Suvarna and Harish Bangera, who took to the floor hosting several games for everyone. The day kick started with the first game “Unwrapping the Candies” for the tiny tots below 5 years. It was very hilarious to watch the curiosity of these kids while competing to explore the layered wrappers to target their candies. This continued with the amazing and fun filled “Sand Treasure Hunt” game for kids between 5-10 years.
The next party game “Bombing the City” for children of all ages with placard names of their favourite out-lets (Pizza Hut, KFC, McDonald & Dominos) was a big hit for the children and for everyone watching them whenever the music stopped and announced the bombed city.
Next was the turn of the beautiful ladies to play a new innovative game of “Longest Tear”, where they had to tear an A4 size paper sheet with their hands as long as they could. The participants raced for the win amidst the encouragement and cheering by their better halves. The married men and bachelors game was played next. It started enthusiastically with the traditional “Musical Chair” and later there was a twist wherein the last 10 remaining participants had to fetch things in and around with the help of the audience and as tactfully instructed by the Games Coordinator, Roopa Umesh. The couples had a blast in the next game playing “Bursting the Balloon”. Each couple placed an inflated balloon in between their backs and tried to burst it without touching it with their hands, among roaring cheers from the crowd. Next, was an interesting game “Building of Coins” played by couples which tested their intelligence and life balancing skills. The couples were provided few money coins and a pop stick, the end of which had to be placed in their mouths. When signaled to start, each partner placed coins on top of the pop stick taking alternate turns building a coin tower over the bridge balanced between their mouths. The concluding game of the day was “Balancing the Ball” for couples and bachelors in pairs. This was very witty and challenging as the couples and bachelors struggled to pull the ball tucked between their partners neck into theirs without touching hands. Even after two rehearsals, many participants were struggling to pull off the ball without much success!
The audiences were kept busy with spot games and prizes guessing the price of various food stuff and grocery items, and the one who guessed the correct or closest price was given the same item as their prize. This was quiet a vocal game as everyone bid for the item on offer. All the games kept the audience fascinated and engrossed for an extensive length of time. Men, women and kids enjoyed the day by participating in the fun-filled games with joy and smiles abundant on all the faces when the fun games were conducted.
The prize winners in various categories were:
• Unwrapping the Candies
1. Raksh Uday
2. Anchal Naveen
• Sand treasure hunt
1. Anuj Umesh
2. Sharath Chandra
• Paper Tearing Game
1. Divya Kotian
2. Sharath Kumari
• Bombing The City Game
1. Akanksha Ranjan
2. Dhriti Kanchan
• Bacherlor’s Musical Chair
1. Sudeep Kumar
2. Tarun Ashish
• Coins Balancing Game
Winner -Dr Ranjan & Dr Seema Ranjan
• Bursting The Baloon Game
Winners –Ashwini and Santosh Salian
• Passing the ball (neck to neck) Game
Winner – Gautam Raj & Sunil Kanchan
Buffet lunch of traditional delicacies fish curry, chicken sukka, kadle-mannoli, sabakki payasa and many more were served, which flash backed the memories of native fondness.
While the audience settled after the lunch and relished ice-creams, Shesh Kanchan and team conducted the Housie game.
Another highlight of the event was the swimming pool. Children who waited impatiently robed in their swimming gear during the day jumped into the pool and while the youngsters enjoyed thoroughly frolicking in the water, the elders and others relaxed and were treated to visual pleasure enjoying the Yakshagana played through the screen projector. Later, tea and coffee were served with sizzling hot Golibaje.
The dance floor was opened to all and the music was well managed by our very own DJ Ashok Kotian.
The grand raffle draw, sponsored by Ravi Kanchan (Bright Silver LLC), was held at the conclusion of the event and three lucky Mogaveers namely Sohan Girish Kanchan – Lucky Kid, Mamata Pushparaj – Lucky Woman, and Narayana Shriyan –Lucky Man, won the same.
Sujatha Lokesh Kunder (Joint Secretary) and Aarti Ravi Kanchan (General Secretary of MM Koota) delivered the vote of thanks, expressing heartfelt gratitude to HM Sultan Qaboos, ruler of Oman, all the sponsors, supporters and patrons of the day’s event.
The main sponsors of the event were Girish Kanchan, Ravi Kanchan, Dr Shekar Salian and Dr Ranjan. Drinking water and juices were sponsored by Oman Oasis LLC and Khafeef cooking oil was sponsored by Areej Vegetable Oil LLC, arranged by Prakash Naik (Vice President-MM Koota).
Everyone enjoyed the day to the fullest and carried home joyful memories along with complimentary Khafeef oil. Bags of goodies were handed over to the kids as return gift. The party mood continued for the kids with the curiousness to find what was inside their bags and to the Muscat Mogaveers family looking forward to the announcement of the next get-together.
Namaskara ! It was a day well spent with family and friends with lots of entertainment, yummy food and a cool dip in the pool. Thanks to all who made this day a memorable one. Lets join hands and conduct more such events in the future too.
Special thanks to Mangalorean.com for publishing this article beautifully written by Mr. Sudhakar Karkera & Mr. Shriyan for the awesome pics. JAI MOGAVEERS !