Happy New Year 2009

May the New Year 2009 bring many opportunities your way
to explore every joy of life
and may your resolutions for the days ahead stay firm,
turning all your dreams into reality
and all your efforts into great achievements.

For last year's words belong to last year's language
and next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.

We will open the book. Its pages are blank.
We are going to put words on them ourselves.
The book is called Opportunity
and its first chapter is New Year's Day.

Have a Rocking Year "2009", Keep Smiling :-)

Regards
Rohan

The Bush Shoe Thrower

1.
View the bush shoe thrower video on youtube
2.
A huge bronze shoe sculpture has been erected in tribute to the Iraqi journalist who grabbed instant fame when threw his shoes at former US President George W Bush last year.



3.
Bush Matrix animation gif



4. the shoe thrower

Its Christmas Time in every Goan Home

Its Christmas Time in every Goan Home


Me and my family like every other Goan celebrates Christmas
Christmas starts by celebrating Midnight Christmas mass. After the mass one can see people greeting family and friends "Merry Christmas".
Like every other christian family in Goa, we decorated our house with stars, lanterns, lights, and the Christmas tree, put up lights, starts around the house, Made a Christmas crib.
Early morning started with calling up family members and loved ones from near and far to wish them merry Christmas. At the same time was busy getting phone calls with friends and family members calling up to greet us on christmas.
One could here Carols being played in every house.
As the day progressed we had visitors, friends, family members droping in to greet us from christmas.
The christmas delicacies like Neuroes, Dodol, Bibinca, Dose, batkh, Pinarg, fruits, chocolates, cake, mazipan, zuzups, nuts and cookies are served to guests with drinks

Merry Christmas - Enjoy it the Goan style
May this Christmas season bring you Joy and cheer

Some pictures of the my crib, the Christmas tree, decorations and the Goan Christmas delicacies.

That's my crib

Decorating the Christmas tree, uhmm I missed my sister

Decoration on the wall

Decoration on the wall

Mazipan

Christmas Cake

Bibinca

Dose

Dodol

Zuzups

Bhatk

Pinarg

Neuros

some fruits

Some fruits

and chocolates ...

Merry Christmas Goa

Merry Christmas Goa

Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle all the way

Christmas is celebrated all over the world on 25th December.
Its the birth day of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ was not born in a palace or wealthy household
He was born in a manger, a stable.
Christmas is celebrated in great way in Goa.
However, this year the celebrations are on a low note, on account of the bomb blasts in Mumbai.
But the spirit of the Christmas season has not dampened and still prevails
Every household is busy getting their homes ready to welcome baby Jesus.
You can see people decorating the Christmas tree and making cribs.
People getting ready the sweets for Christmas namely Naureos, Bibinca, Dodol, dose etc
Children go around singing carols and waiting for Christmas father to get them gifts.
Live cribs with carol singing make rounds in villages
People from all communities in Goa take part in the festivities of Christmas.
Programs are held at the different parishes in Goa during the Christmas week.
The mid night Christmas mass draws huge crowds which includes goan, people from India as well as many foreign tourists.
After the mass there are cultural events and social gatherings.
with each person wishing every person they meet a "Merry Christmas"


Here are just a few pictures of the people getting ready for Christmas

A live crib, with children singing and dancing, doing rounds in Porvorim

A live crib, with children singing and dancing, doing rounds in Porvorim



A live crib, with children singing and dancing, doing rounds in Porvorim

The crib at the Panjim Church

A Christmas father on display for sale at a shop

Christmas decorations for sale


Christmas decorations for sale


Christmas decorations for sale


Christmas decorations for sale


Christmas decorations for sale



"Blue Christmas" Firms using Christmas season to advertise their products
"No one wants to be left out"


"Blue Christmas" Firms using Christmas season to advertise their products


"Blue Christmas" Firms using Christmas season to advertise their products
"Tourists enjoying the Christmas father around"


"Blue Christmas" Firms using Christmas season to advertise their products



The Christmas crib at the Mapusa market


A effigy of Christmas Father, at Cortin Panaji

Goa Intercollege Carol Singing competition organised by Help and Help Charitable Trust, Goa

Goa Inter College Carol Singing competition organised by Help and Help Charitable Trust, Goa

The Inter College Carol Singing competition organised by the Help and Help Charitable Trust, Goa was held at the Kala Academy Open Air Auditorium on 18th December, 2008.

Fr. Valeriano Vaz, Director, Caritas Goa was the chief Guest for the occasion. He congratulated all the participants and also the Help and Help charitable trust.

In all, there were 12 Goan Colleges participating in the event.
It was a mesmerizing performance by the students of St. Xaviers College, Mapusa, that gave them first prize, the second place went to Dempe College, Miramar and the third place was bagged by The Dental College, Bambolim.

There was a large audience for this event and they were applauding the participants. The competition was tough, so it meant a lot of judging for the members of the Jury that included eminent personalities like Fr. Benard Cotta, Fr. Jean D'Cruz, Ms. Juliana D'sa, Ms. Mercedes Lobo & Shri. Christopher Furtado.

What came as a pleasant surprise to the audience was the carol singing by a 150 member group who comprised of the people from the different homes for the aged, autistic children,special children etc and from all over Goa. This group had members from different age groups, young and old and even an octogenarian. This group got a and a standing ovation and a huge applause from the audience. As it was indeed a touching experiences as they sung the carol "Happy Birthday Jesus".
Another surprise to end the carol singing competition was carol singing by "the Goa College of Music" It was a splendid presentation.


First Place "St. Xaviers College", Goa

Second Place "Dempe College" , Miramar Goa

Third Place "Goa Dental College" , Goa


The Carmelites with their "Memento" of the Carol Singing Competition

Fr. Valeriano Vaz, Director Charitas

A Section of the Audience for the Carol Singing Competition

The esteemed members of the Jury seated

The Goa College of Music, Goa

The Goa College of Music, Goa

Mr. Ravi of Help and Help Charitable Trust, Goa

Dental College, Goa

Dental College, Goa

Dental College, Goa

St. Xaviers College, Goa

St. Xaviers College, Goa

Dempe College, Miramar Goa

Hotel Management

Carmel College, Nuvem Goa

Carmel College, Nuvem Goa

Ms. Roshan Gonsalves, Carmel College, Nuvem Goa

Carmel College, Nuvem Goa

Mrs. Joan Rebello of Help and Help Charitable Trust, Goa