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Singapore: Easter and Spring Festival Celebrations by SingManGo Group

"And He departed from our sight that we might return to our heart, and there find Him. For He departed, and behold, He is here." - Saint Augustine.

Easter, the radiant cornerstone of Christian faith, casts its luminous glow on believers worldwide, heralding the miraculous resurrection of Jesus Christ from the tomb on the third day following his crucifixion. In the heart of Singapore, the SingManGo Group, a vibrant amalgamation of cultures from Mangalore, Goa, and Mumbai, embraced this sacred occasion with jubilant fervor, weaving together threads of family, laughter, and reverent prayer.

On the auspicious 13th of April, the festivities unfolded under the guidance of the spirited MCs, Vinol and Divya, who orchestrated a symphony of joy and merriment. The celebration initiated with a cavalcade of icebreaker games, each one igniting sparks of laughter and camaraderie among the assembled families. Fun-filled merriment abounded for young and the young-at-heart through free and easy activity stalls - PixelBooth run by Merlie & Shalini, ‘Chick-a-boo’ ball toss run by Tina, Reuben, Leon, Gavin & Evan, ‘Easter Bunny Gone Fishin’ Ring the Bottle run by Vinod, Jayesh, Allan & Sourav, ‘Happy Hues’ Tattoos run by Janet, Sharon, Joyce & Shalini and ‘Mask Mania’ run by Laveena, Eugenie, Chloe & Shaila, enabling an evening brimming with fun and frolic.

As twilight descended, the Spring Festival March beckoned families to the heart of the gathering, where Vinol’s rhythmic guidance led them into a harmonious dance. Amidst the infectious melodies, whispers of royal selections tantalized the crowd’s anticipation of the festivities. A giant photo session captured the collective joy, preserving the bonds of friendship and kinship shared among the 53 families, a subset of the larger SingManGo Group comprising 120 families.

Yet, amidst the jubilation, the SingManGo Group did not forget its commitment to social causes. Global Indian Catholic Network (GICN) led by Mabel, found a resounding voice within the community. GICN Volunteers passionately advocated for unity and awareness among Indian Catholics worldwide encouraging all to come together to address the pressing challenges faced by youth of today, in finding their life partner of choice within the Indian Catholic community via the online platform CatholicMatri.com (CM). Further details can be found at GICN social media channels – instagram.com/gicnworld and facebook.com/gicnworld.

The entertainment commenced with a mesmerizing duet performance by Yvonne and Liam, whose enchanting mashup of ‘Shirandriso Pavs’ and ‘Altoddicho Loak’ served as a poignant reminder to cherish life’s simple pleasures. A lively Ice Breaker Game sparked interactions among families to deepen the knowledge about each other, followed by the "Guess the Surname" game.

Musical interludes filled the air, as Keisha’s soul-stirring rendition of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ awakened hope and love in every heart. Laughter bubbled forth with Richard and Herman’s comedic performance, infusing the evening with mirth and joy.

Following Ian and Hayley’s captivating duet rendition of ‘Marvin Gaye’, the evening continued with an engaging Alphabet Game, where participants were put to the test with a funny quiz, including queries about getting the Prime Minister’s name correctly, and quirky challenges like spelling "Pepsi".

The energy soared to new heights with a dynamic Flash mob dance, choreographed by Karen, igniting a sense of excitement and endless possibilities among the gathered crowd.

With the evening reaching its zenith, it was time for dinner and Noel led the audience in a moment of reflection with a heartfelt Grace before Meals, underscoring the spirit of gratitude and unity permeating the celebration.

As families enjoyed their dinner, Janessa put a pause on their eating as she took the stage for a mesmerizing Kathak Fusion performance, enchanting the audience with her graceful moves and expressions. As families indulged in their dinner, the evening’s entertainment persisted with Joicy’s soulful rendition of a Hindi song from the movie Talaash, filling the air with melodious enchantment.

Amidst the music, Noel took a moment to express heartfelt gratitude, extending a sincere thank-you note to all who contributed to the unforgettable evening.

Acknowledgements were showered upon the dedicated teams behind the scenes, from the diligent efforts of Joel along with the Pen & Inc Team in organizing the venue to the vibrant performances orchestrated by the Emcees, Event team, and performers. Special recognition was bestowed upon individuals Allan, Elveena, Divya, Joicy, and Laveena, who lent their talents to the preparation of traditional delicacies like dukra mass and sorpatel to further enrich the buffet spread served out by Joel and team. The diligent assistance provided by Sneha, Vinita, Benita, Joicy, Laveena, Lylesh, Francis, and Joy in overseeing the food and drinks, were recognized.

Further appreciation was extended to the Prize volunteers sponsored by Agnes & Francis, Giselle & Joy, Joyce & Rajendra, Nandita & Garth, Nanita & Ajit, Priya & Rohit, Shirley & Robert, as well as Kudla Village Restaurant’s Gilbert & Selma, whose dedication ensured the smooth execution of interactive games and activities throughout the evening. Gratitude was also expressed to Aaron, the new DJ, whose tunes added to the festive ambiance.

A heartfelt thank-you was reserved for the Core Events Team, including Divya, Vinol, Merlie, Nasvill, Laveena, Richard and Pratibha, whose unwavering commitment brought the celebration to life. Deepika and Brayan captured the essence of the evening in their writings with Rupa, Richard and many others sharing beautiful pictures and videos of the evening to enable lasting memories for all.

After dinner, the announcement of prize winners, crowned with excitement and anticipation, added a final flourish to the evening’s festivities.  

The evening reached its pinnacle with the announcement of the Prize winners for the titles of King, Queen, Prince, and Princess, eliciting cheers and applause from the gathered crowd and were bagged by Nasvill, Janet, Veron and Lisa respectively.

Merlie took the stage for a lively karaoke session, filling the air with music and laughter, that was followed by the couple dance. The festivities continued with free and easy dancing to popular tunes, allowing everyone to let loose and revel in the joyous spirit of the occasion.

As the stars twinkled overhead, families lingered, savoring every moment of camaraderie and connection. New friendships blossomed, and old bonds were renewed, echoing promises of future reunions and endless laughter with the SingManGo Group.