About NAKA

North American Konkani Association (NAKA) was formed in 1998 when Ms. Nina Padukone,Damodhar Baliga, Vasanth Bhat, and (Late) M. Vasudev Nayak saw a need for an all-encompassing national organization to help unite the North American Konkani community, intending to preserve our language (our means of communication), showcasing our culture, and nurturing our customs and traditions. With this vision guiding us, NAKA strives every day to serve as a resource, provide a helping hand when needed, and create a national presence for the Konkani Community.

What we do?

NAKA was created to be a central resource to provide support to regional planning committees through its board members’ vast experience in planning Sammelans. Since its inception, it has served in financial, charitable, and informational capacities for Sammelans, youth conventions, and other ventures. Aside from Sammelans, our goal is to support the youth conventions, local Konkani organizations throughout North America, and most importantly, to unite Konkanis throughout North America.

Why does the Konkani Community need NAKA?

Worldwide, the Konkani Community is very small. Fraction is in North America, which is widely spread across the U.S.A. and Canada. Several Konkani regional Associations have been trying to cater mainly to the cultural and religious needs of local Konkanis. With changing demography, especially the growing sector of youth born and raised in North America, Konkanis have slowly started drifting away from our culture. The new immigrant’s outlook, needs, and expectations differ from those who have come just 10 to 15 years back. The Community’s needs are also changing fast. To keep our Community together and strong, there is a definite need for an umbrella organization. We are working on several ideas in (1) Promoting our Culture, Heritage, and Language, (2) Creating more networking opportunities for the Konkani Community, including Youth and Young adults. NAKA is an effective mouthpiece for the Konkani Community of North America on all matters that affect our community’s betterment. NAKA is also a vehicle to keep a strong bond and relationship between the Konkani communities in North American and other countries, including our motherland, India.

How can the Konkani Community help NAKA?

Worldwide, the Konkani Community is very small. Fraction is in North America, which is widely spread across the U.S.A. and Canada. Several Konkani regional Associations have been trying to cater mainly to the cultural and religious needs of local Konkanis. With changing demography, especially the growing sector of youth born and raised in North America, Konkanis have slowly started drifting away from our culture. The new immigrant’s outlook, needs, and expectations differ from those who have come just 10 to 15 years back. The Community’s needs are also changing fast. To keep our Community together and strong, there is a definite need for an umbrella organization. We are working on several ideas in (1) Promoting our Culture, Heritage, and Language, (2) Creating more networking opportunities for the Konkani Community, including Youth and Young adults. NAKA is an effective mouthpiece for the Konkani Community of North America on all matters that affect our community’s betterment. NAKA is also a vehicle to keep a strong bond and relationship between the Konkani communities in North American and other countries, including our motherland, India.