AN 'INSTITUTION' - THE ZONALS

The Andrean Cultural Council [ACC] of Saint Andrew’s Parish was instituted to encourage talented youth to participate in myriad forms of activities involving music, dance and theatre.

Boundaries were crossed for the first time when, more than half a century ago, a band of visionaries, dared to step out of the boat of a society that appreciated and acknowledged only those endowed with exceptional linguistic or numerical abilities and established the Talent Contest as an initiative to help individuals discover their potential and capabilities in unexplored territories like Music and Drama. Since then The Saint Andrew’s Parish Zonal Talent Contest, has grown into the brand fondly known to our city as “Zonals”. A system of carefully drawn out rules and processes that has sustained the initiative through these many years, has gone through stages of meticulous documentation and refinement to a point where “organizational skills” began to emerge in their own right as a byproduct of equal status. And as a result, somewhere down the line came the mission statement:

“THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTEST IS TO PROVIDE A PLATFORM TO DRAW OUT AND DEVELOP THE TALENTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL IN THE AREAS OF MUSIC, DRAMA, DANCE, ART AND - in the process - ORGANISATION.”

The 66th presentation was in 2023. During the Pandemic years, 2020 and 2021, circumstances did not permit the presentation of the “Zonals” . The last SIXTY-SIX presentations, the first being in 1953, have helped contestants discover their talent in Music and Dramatics and more recently, in Dance and Elocution. For the large number of young people involved with the actual organization, the “Zonals”  has served as a training ground for skill in motivating teams of people to achieve challenging goals. Many a giant in the music, theatre, entertainment and event management industry of our city owes the initial discovery of their talent to this platform.

This year Zonals 2024 being held in August / September, now under the banner of the ACC and christened “The St. Andrew’s All Bandra Parish Talent Contest” is in its 67th presentation, with participation from 8 vibrant Parishes. The St. Andrew's Auditorium is filled to capacity for each program spread over 4 weekends, speaking volumes for the appreciation of the event. Approximately 1200 individuals are involved in these outstanding disciplines of elocution, music, dance and dramatics and include accompanists, trainers, teachers and back stage support.  

In our endeavour to encourage and promote talent the ACC conducted training sessions by professionals from July to November 2010 in the fields of dance, dramatics and vocal training for all the parishes in the Bandra Deanery and the response was simply overwhelming. Over 250 enthusiastic people, young and not so young, from the ages 4 to 74 took advantage of the training program and this talent was showcased in December 2010 at the ANDREAN FAIR, held over 3 days on the St. Andrew’s School grounds, which drew crowds of over 5000 people.  

The ACC is always striving toward greater goals and diversity. On MAY 01, 2011, a Food Festival ‘Celebrating Maharashtra Day the Andrean Way’ was held, showcasing the prized local cuisine from the humble kitchens of the neighbourhood. The Andrean Fair was held again in December 2012 and November 2015, which again were a huge success. This year Zonals 2024 will include music, dance, theatre and elocution, encouraging and increasing participation at a new level. 

The success of our efforts so far, has been predominantly due to the generosity of our Donors, Sponsors and Well Wishers. This has gone a long way in helping us achieve our objective of bringing the youth of Bandra together and in the process developing talent and creating a vibrant community. With the above in mind, we are now venturing into the world of Visual Arts, & Culinary Skills. The Vision for the Andrean Cultural Council is to create a Platform for ‘Community Bonding’

Who knows, there will perhaps come a time in this world without boundaries, when this platform will be extended to every individual in this town.

Yet greater than anything else, whatever the boundary we cross, the primary yardstick with which to measure the impact and relevance of the Zonals is how much this process of participating and putting together the event produces the ultimate goal - an empowered, involved and enlightened vibrant community.

If you wish to write in please send mail to zonals.standrews@gmail.com