Edison, June 17: The North American Konkani Association will be organizing a Konkani Sammelan-2012 in Edison, New Jersey, USA from June 29 to July 1 2012.
This three-day extravaganza is attended by Konkanis from all over the world - predominantly from the North American region and India.
Featured speakers and delegates include T. V. Mohandas Pai (ex-CFO of Infosys and chair of Manipal Universal Learning), Padma Vibhushan Shyam Benegal (famous director and winner of numerous awards), Basti Vaman Shenoy (President, World Konkani Center), Ram Mohan (famous director), Mahalaxmi Shenoy (famous classical singer) and Amrita Rao (famous Bollywood actress). Approximately 1600 delegates are expected to attend this Sammelan; its theme is “Connecting Konkanis, Heart to Heart, Home Away from Home”. For more information please visit the website http://www.konkani2012.org
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The Sammelan will be held at NJ Convention Center 97 Sunfield Avenue Edison, NJ 08837. About 2,000 people from U.S., India, Canada, United Kingdom, and other countries are expected to attend.
Hotel Sheraton will have round-the-clock shuttle service to and from the convention center. We are also making additional arrangements for buses and shuttles from Sheraton and other hotels. There are approximately 1500- 2000 parking spaces in and around the convention center. There are four major airports close to the NJ Convention Center.
Some of the special features of this Sammelan are: Seminars and Workshops, Entertainment, Medical Symposium, Awards, Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy, Natak, Sangeet, Talent, Art & Culture, Khel (games), Bhaas(language), Khan-Jyavan(Food), Activities for Children, Indoor sports and so on.
History of Konkani Sammelans in N A:
The Konkani Sammelan is a flagship event for the Konkanis in North America. This biennial event has attracted Konkanis from all across the United States and Canada. The two-and-half day event highlights sumptuous Konkani food, entertainment, seminars, workshops, and much more. Konkani Sammelans have been a toast of the community.
Initiated in 1996, all these Sammelans have been consistently a grand success. What started out as "Kindling the Konkani Spirit" in New Jersey in 1996 grew up to "Nurture Konkani Culture" in California in 1998. The Millennium Sammelan in 2000 in Chicago boosted the Konkani spirits high by “Promoting Konkani Heritage." The 2002 Konkani Sammelan in Houston made us all "Proud to be Konkanis." The 2004 Konkani Sammelan in Southern California certainly did a marvelous job in “Preserving Our Heritage and Promoting Our Youth.” The 2006 Canadian Sammelan helped us in “Remembering Our Past & Looking To Our Future.” The 2008 Sammelan in Santa Clara helped “Awaken the Konkani in us All,” leading to the upcoming 2012 Sammelan in Edison, which will be 'connecting Konkanis, heart to heart, home away from home.”
These Sammelans have fulfilled the goal of preserving the Konkani heritage and communicating its exclusive ancient values to the younger generation. The Konkani youth have risen to this challenge and host separate youth conventions biennially as well. The bond that has developed through these gatherings is everlasting. It never fails to attract and educate GenY in the culture and ethos of their roots and ascendants. These Sammelans have given Konkanis a rare opportunity to reunite, learn from each other, discuss issues of common interest, and launch out into new friendships and renewed lives for the future of a close knit ancient community.
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