Konkani

You've probably seen the word "Konkani" mentioned a couple of times while navigating the site.

RIGHT?

*Konkani is the small Indian sub-culture that our family belongs to

*A regional dialect of India

*A culture

Difficult to explain.

As for the formal definitions:

The Konkani culture originated out of the Indian state, Goa, and has since moved around the world with associations active all over North-America. (Check out ours !)

Aside from the food and background, our other distinction is made by the language we speak... Konkani. I can speak it a little (broken sentences and a hurtin' accent). Unfortunately, since the language is spoken by so few, there is no actual script for it. Therefore, to get something across on paper to a fellow Konkani, you've essentially got to phonetically sound out the word while stealing the letters from another language <hahahaha>.

As far as I am from hometown Mangalore, India, being a Konkani is still super valuable to me. I'm no tabla-thumping, dokla-eating fanatic (oh god!), but I value my roots and I want this culture to continue. It scares me to think that in a couple of years, there could be nobody out there who knows what: "moos riggela," "jeeb-jeeb puttee," and "muthay katha" means!

Check out the links below for a more in-depth look at the culture that I am so proud to belong to.

Two years passed since California held the NAKS, a conference for Konkani's around the continent. Chicago hosted the 2000 edition. The Canadian contingent travelled down in the infamous 'Canada' bus (a 14-meter coach, painted with figures from Canada's glory days). Eight girls from our group performed a dance (that involved FLYING). Dhole Bhajay! Props to Chicago for thinking about the youth! There was a 'dating auction,' formal, dinner, and the omnipresent "Bennigan's" for the under 35s. Can't wait for Houston 2002!

Culture.Konkani.Com

Formerly the Konkani Sabha. THE authoritative source for all the Konkani info you could ever want. Lots of links to other associations, a run-down on Konkani history, and other quirky things about our culture. (Well actually, there is nothing really 'quirky' about our culture - aside from maybe that weird fascination with 'soirikays'...)

Konkan - The Home of Konkanis on the Net

Konkani-Net Central

Part of a multi-site webring on the Net dedicated to the Konkani culture.

INDOlink Recipes - desperate to cook up 'rassam, dahi vada, pullau, anee bhatatta bhaji'?

Kamat's PotPourri - this is one of those crazy, everything-in-one websites. (who DOES that anymore, anyway?) The link takes you to the Konkani Heritage Album, but the main page of this site has more... Last time I checked, there were articles on Indian crossdressing, red ants and village boys, and WonderBras in India. (That last one would be deemed as 'vaitta! vaitta!' scandalous) Definitely worth a look.