GROUP: The winners with guests and organisers.
The Goan Welfare Association (GWA) has been the face and voice of expatriates from Goa, India. GWA recently organised its annual May Queen Ball event at Giwana Hall in Radisson Blu Hotel.
The hotel hall went berserk in applause and burst into celebration as sizzling beauty Swizel Pereira was crowned the 18th May Queen by Milind Gunaji, Bollywood actor, in the company of Palomi Ghosh, a stunning Bollywood actress; Simon D’Silva, GWA President; Chief Guest Luizinho Faleiro, MLA and ex-chief minister of Goa; Guest of Honour Antonio Tanger Correa, Ambassador of Portugal to Qatar; and GWA members.
Swizel was perhaps the best choice to be the 18th May Queen as her wisdom matched her confidence and dazzling smile. Swizel walked away with fabulous prizes including a gold necklace by Marhaba Jewellers, a Westar wrist watch, a gift hamper of perfumes and facial vouchers, Doha-Kuwait-Doha airline ticket by Cleopatra travels, two nights stay and dinner for two persons at Grand Hyatt and a gift voucher by Apparel group.
Bold and beautiful Bakhita Souza Ferrao was crowned as first runner-up. She won a gold necklace by Prakkat Jewellers, a Westar wrist watch, a gift hamper of perfumes and facial vouchers, overnight stay and dinner voucher at Horizon Manor Hotel and a gift voucher by Apparel group.
Second runner-up was Shubra Bedi, who walked away with a gold chain by Zaiba Jewellers, overnight stay and dinner vouchers at Horizon Manor Hotel, a Westar wrist watch, a perfumes gift hamper, facial vouchers and a gift voucher by Apparel group.
The traditional 18th May Queen ball organised in collaboration with Orbit Events and Marketing was a grand success and delivered exhilarating music and spectacular performances laced with fun, frolic and excitment. It was patronised by not only local guests but also the guests from other GCC countries, Portugal, UK and India. The compere of the evening was Updesh Swar, who set the ball rolling with the band in attendance Forefront.
The event was different from the last one. The chief guest, the guest of honour, Milind Gunaji, Palomi Ghosh, Bardroy Barretto and Glen Barretto, all noted guests, were escorted by the GWA president and members to the traditional Portuguese Marcha De Fountanhan.
Hassan Abdul Karim Chougule and Syed Mohammad Sabih Bukhari are the two most powerful Indian icons of the Middle East, successful businessmen, socio-cultural activists, and winners of Bharat Samman award. They were felicitated by Antonio Tanger Correa and Luizinho Faleiro.
The May Queen pageant was judged by highly qualified and professional judging panel comprising Sarita Barretto, Bollywood designer; Azim Abbas, Managing Director of Al-Sulaiman Jewellery and Watches; and Archie D’Mello, Ex-Office Director of Qatar Airway’s CEO. Main sponsor was Qatari Industrial Equipment and co-sponsors were Fabindia and Capital One, Qatar Airways, Doha Bank, Radisson Blu Doha, Gulf Times, 89.6 One FM radio, and Daijiworld.com.
