Doha, Qatar: The grand gala traditional 18th Annual May Queen Ball organised by the Goan Welfare Association, Qatar (GWA), in collaboration with Orbit Events and Marketing is all set to roll on May 10 at the Radisson Blu Doha from 7.30 PM onward.
The highlight of the event will be the crowning of the 18th May Queen by Bollywood celebrities. The annual May Queen Ball is the signature event of GWA that has grown from strength to strength over the years and the guests from UK, Portugal, the GCC and home country are expected to attend in huge numbers with local guests.
The 18th edition of the May Queen event will be an exciting and fun filled blockbuster as the invitations have been extended to the top Bollywood celebrities. Eighteen consecutive years of celebration with Indian celebrities attending every year has helped us build a bridge and strong bond among the Bollywood celebrities and Indian community in Qatar, said Simon D’Silva, President of the Goan Welfare Association.
The GWA has been the face and voice of Goans living in the tiny oil-rich country of Qatar for the last 18 years, ably led by the affectionate and inimitable Simon D’Silva. Since its inception, the association has rendered yeoman’s service in nurturing the Goan culture and spirit among the large number of Goan expatriates. On a larger note the association has always been in the forefront of reaching out to various causes, thus setting a shining example to all. It is therefore not astonishing to see them host events with great aplomb and success for nearly two decades. The association is known not only for meticulous planning but also perfect execution and the annual May Queen Ball has been a true example of this.
“Forefront”, Goa’s number one and India’s most celebrated live band from the western Indian state of Goa will be another highlight of the show.
Forefront took off into the music world for over two decades and from then it was no looking back. The band took off right from the start by performing for all the top shows in Goa and across India and abroad. The success story of Forefront lies in the music they play, with strong stage presence and a distinct ability in sensing the pulse of their audience. An extensive repertoire of music such as English retro, classic rock, Bollywood, latest from the billboard charts and Goan music is what they deliver which makes every party a big success. The band is powered by six top musicians, namely Agatha Jilugo on lead vocals, Savio Fernandes on drums and vocals, Melvin Rosario on guitar and vocals, Brendan Noronha on keyboards, Band leader Seby Pinto on bass and vocals and the newly inducted frontman Dave Rodrigues on guitar and lead vocals. The band is known for their tight musical combination which attracts the attention of everyone at a party or at a concert. When the band takes the centre stage, they are lethal show stoppers and can set the dance floor ablaze. The crowd shouting out for encore and not wanting to leave the dance floor is a common feature for every show. Forefront is the only band in India who can play a wide genre of music with perfection.
They performed and represented Goa for the “15th Lusofonia Festival” that was held in Macau, China. Their performance earned them the 2nd place among nine countries including Brazil and Portugal. Forefront’s electrifying performance in Cranford London had an overwhelming response from a crowd of over 12000. The band was featured on SONY TV in London and also in Pan Asian countries.
Forefront is all set to set the stage on fire for the upcoming prestigious May Queen Ball in Doha at 7.30 pm with the grand opening ceremony with non-stop music until the Bollywood celebrities take the centre stage.
Teaming up with Forefront will be Goa’s top host and ace compere, Updesh Swar. He is a sensation in Goa and all over India and abroad and has a unique hold over the audience. Updesh’s eloquent, witty compering is second to none. Even though he has compered at the event a number of times, each time he comes up with a unique style.
In the past, the show has been graced by Indian celebrities such as Aftab Shivdasani, Preethi Jhangiani, ASRANI, Sameer Dharmadhikari, Indian pop/rock singer Remo Fernandes, Manish Goel, Poonam Goel, Rajeev Khandelwal, Chunky Pandey, Nausheen Ali Sardar, Jay Bhanushali, Mahhi Vij, Shreyas Talpadi, Samir Soni, Neelam Kothari, Aditya Lakhia (Lagaan), Aashka Goradia, Palomi Ghosh (Nachom-ia Kumpasar), Tanuj Virwani, Shivaji Satam (CID – ACP Pradyuman), Yoshika Verma, Nikitin Dheer (Tangaballi of Chennai Express), Ester Noronha, lead actress of Sophiya and Noshibacho Khell, Indian ministers, MLA’s, Indian ambassadors to Qatar, diplomats and VIPs.
The May Queen Ball is one of the eagerly-awaited annual events in Doha and every year it attracts a full-house, making it a memorable event. The glamorous May Queen contest will be conducted with great style and fanfare. The event is open to all nationalities.
For details, please call 55550491.
