On 4th May 2000, the Goan Welfare
Society (GWS) - Kuwait held its traditional May Ball of the Millennium at Al-Habiba
Ballroom, Messillah Beach Hotel.
The Ball was set rolling with the Top Ranks (comprising of Adolf, Johnny, Lawry,
Dennis and Tony) hitting it off with mellow notes in the beginning and
thereafter increasing the tempo in the subsequent dance sets (interspersing
current chart toppers and hits of yesteryears) and kept the crowd grooving to
the beat all night long. Succour D'Mellow and Joe jammed up with the Top Ranks
and treated the crowd to a variety of Goan Oldies.
In between the sets, a lot of prizes were given away to the guests. The
most eagerly awaited event of the evening was the May Queen Pageant, which drew
a bevy of pretty belles attired in gorgeous gowns and latest fads in fashion,
each of them vying for the title of the Millennium Mughal Mahal Queen.
The belles sashayed around the dance floor catwalking to the march and were
judged on their attire, poise, personality and beauty. The pageant drew
more than 35 participants (biggest ever) and the number was cut down to twelve
(12) semi-finalists. The shortlisted femmes catwalked yet again, sashaying
to the beat and each of them being judged on their poise, beauty and on their
retorts to the questionnaires.
The prize for the best dressed lady went to Shirley J. Marshall. The list was
further trimmed down to five finalists namely Rayleen D'Souza, Lydia Persis,
Fatimah, Cheryl Ann-Aguiar, and Shirley J. Marshall. The pretty belles
were escorted on to the dance floor by smartly attired male escorts.
The participants in addition to catwalking for the final time, drew a
question each and were judged on their intelligence (based on the answers) in
addition to their beauty, personality and poise.
The final round judged by Suhana Sharif, Carmo Santos, Jatinder Suri, Villie
Aria and a surprise judge drawn from amongst the quests.
Rayleen D'Souza's answer to the qualities of her ideal life partner: It was
someone who could add value to her life, has a lot of perserverance and love her
immensely.
Lydia Persis drew her questions as to what she would do if she won a grand
raffle draw of a million dinars:
She answered she would use it wisely.
Fatima when questioned: If given the power to change the world for a better
place what would she do?
Answered - she would try and remove poverty.
Cheryl Ann Aguiar's answer as to what talent she would prefer:
She would choose to sing and when asked why?
So that she could sing to her heart's content!
Finally coming down to Shirley J. Marshall, she was queried as to what are the
ingredients that make a perfect marriage?
She
answered that "it was love for one another, understanding and getting to
know each other".
After a sumptuous dinner, with the clock ticking away, all five finalists were
escorted on to the dance floor and a tense atmosphere prevailed in anticipation
for the declaration of the 1st May Queen of the Millennium.
Lydia Persis was declared the First Runner-Up and Shirley J. Marshall was the
Second Runner-Up.
In the end the petty and ebullient high school student, Rayleen D'Souza was
crowned the 1st May Queen of the Millennium by Mrs. Carla. She carried
home loads of prizes including a Kuwait-Goa-Kuwait air ticket courtesy of Air
India, while the other Runners-up were presented air tickets by Olympic Airways,
and Jet Airways respectively. All three winners received gold pendants and
diner/lunch vouchers from Mughal Mahal Restauarant, gifts from Goan Welfare
Society, besides other prizes. The other two finalists also received
consolation prizes.
While addressing the gathering, Mr. Alex Wilson Coelho, President of the Goan
Welfare Society (GWS), 
Kuwait thanked the guests and all the sponsors who have
stood by the GWS all these years especially Air India, Jatinder Suri of Mughal
Mahal, Fabian Pinto of Olympic Airways, Jet Airways, GulfMart Supermarket, Flora
National Gen. Trading Co., U.A. D'Cruz, Jumbo Travels, Expressions - The Flower
Shop (Goa), Arab Times, Kuwait Times, German Advertising Establishment, The
Times, and other sponsors. He also highlighted the role played by GWS in
helping out our less fortunate Goans in Kuwait and wayback home.
As time wore on, the crowd swayed, waltzed, grooved to the beat and also
participated in the Novelty Dance contest, and with the first sun rays streaking
the eastern horizon, it was curtains for GWS' May Ball of the Millennium.
Floyd Paes and Bernadicta D'Souza compered the show which was attended by a
crowd of 450-plus of varied nationalities who enjoyed the show as it was well
organized - a traditional hallmark of GWS.
- Report by: Wellington Dias
- Photography by: Rewon Gomes.