Thousands of Goans from across the UK descended on the grounds of Cranford Community Centre for the annual Goan Festival to dance, sing and sample traditional Goan dishes provided by the many Goan Restaurants and caterers that have sprung up all over the UK from Swindon to Southampton to Norbury in South London.
The event opened in the traditional fashion with a service (Mass) which was celebrated by the Most Rev (Dr) Alwyn Barreto Bishop of Sindhudurg who had flown in especially for the occasion.
Also in town to entertain the crowds were one of Goa's leading bands A26 and Jan Jan Jaani (aka Jan Graveson star of stage, television and film) who has adopted Goa as her home.
Last year Jan opened a School of Performing Arts for under privileged children in Goa which she plans to develop into an integrated Academy of Performing Arts later this year.
The weather too played its part and allowed the UK Goans to eat, drink and make merry throughout the Day.
Cllr Rabi Martins, who served as President of the Goan Association for several years said: "I congratulate Ravi Vaz and his team for putting up a first class event to showcase Goan talent and cuisine Goans are rather slow to push themselves and their talents to the wider public occasions such as this help Goans reconnect with their motherland and at the same time strengthen the bond with the community in our adopted homeland."
Local police who were in attendance also praised the crowds for the good natured way in which everyone seemed to enjoy themselves without giving the police anything to do other than soak up the atmosphere.
Representatives of the High Commission of India led by First Secretary Mr Sunil Kumar spent several hours mingling with the crowd.
Goa President Ravi Vaz said: "Such an event can only be a success because of the support of all those concerned
He also expressed his thanks to Lebara, Air India and other organisations for their support and sponsorship"
