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Frequently Asked Questions

Covid-19 Committee comments:

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to change our plans for the Sammelan and the new FAQ below reflects our latest updates. We will continue to monitor the situation and update this FAQ and the website appropriately.

Venue:

Q1. What is the venue of the Konkani Sammelan 2022?

A: The Konkani Sammelan will be held in San Jose, California, U.S.A from July 2, 2022 through July 4, 2022 at

  San Jose McEnery Convention Center, 
  408 Almaden Blvd, San Jose, CA 95113

 

Q2. How many people are expected to attend this event?

A: About 2000 people from U.S., India, Canada, United Kingdom, and other countries are expected to attend.

 

Q3. How long is the Sammelan?

A: We will officially open registration at 3:00pm on Saturday (July 2nd, 2022). It will end with a Live Band on Monday night (July 4th, 2022). A detailed program guide will be available at http://konkanisammelan.org once we finalize the program in the coming months.

  

Registration: Please read the registration instructions page before you register.

Q1: Who should I contact if I have problems with registration?

A: Please email registrations@konkanisammelan.org or leave a voice mail at 408-459-8423 and someone from committee will contact you.

 

Q2: Do I need to register for the Sammelan if I plan to serve as a volunteer?

A: Yes, all volunteers have to register and pay registration fees for the Sammelan.

 

Q3: Is there any registration discount for the whole family?

A: There is no family registration discount. We have a special registration discount per person until Jan 31, 2021.

 

Q4: Is there any discount for Senior Citizens?

A: Yes there is a special discount for Senior Citizens age older than 65. Please refer to  registration instructions page for the fee structure details.

 

Q5: My child is 7 years old. Do I need to register him/her?

A: Yes, all attendees must be registered. Please refer to  registration instructions page for the fee structure details.

 

Q6: I have a child below the age of five. Do I need to register him/her?

A: Yes, all attendees must be registered, but there is no charge for under the age of 5 (on July 1 2022) and under. Please refer to  registration instructions page for the fee structure details.

 

Q7: Is there a single day registration available?

A: No, you must register for the whole Sammelan - all 3 days (July 2 - 4, 2022).

 

Q8: Is there any extra charge for food, sessions or evening events?

A: Food, sessions and evening events are covered in the Sammelan registration fee.

 

Q9: Who qualifies for the kid registration charges?

A: Kids between the ages 5 and 12 (on July 1 2022)

 

Q10: My friend is interested in attending the Sammelan but he/she is not Konkani. Can he/she register for the Sammelan?

A: Yes, the Sammelan is open to everyone.

 

Q11: Can I register manually?

A: No. You have to register online but can pick the Check payment option and send the check to us within 15 days of registration..

 

Q12: How do I register?

A: To register go to http://konkanisammelan.org/registration 

 

Q13: Can you give me the registration cost breakdown?

A: Please refer to Registration Fee structure on the registration form for information.

 

Q14: Why do I have to register now?

A: You may register anytime until June 15 2022 or until we reach capacity. Please refer to the Registration Fee structure on the registration form for detail costs and deadlines.  

 

Q15: I do not have Internet connection. How do I register?

A: You can call 408-459-8423 and someone can help you get registered for the Sammelan.

 

Q16: I want to cancel my registration. How can I get a refund and what amount will be refunded?

A: Please review the cancellation policy on the registration form.

 

Q17: I would like to donate money to the Sammelan. How can I donate?

A:  On the registration form, there is a line where you can enter the amount you want to donate. Alternatively, you use the donate link under the register tab to donate.

 

Q18: I have lost my registration number. How can I retrieve it?

A: Please contact registrations@konkanisammelan.org to get your details.

 

Q19: I never received a registration confirmation email/letter. How can I get it?

A: Please contact registrations@konkanisammelan.org to get your details.

 

Q20: Can I come early or leave late after the Sammelan?

A: The Sammelan will open at 3.00pm on Saturday, July 2nd 2022, and the Sammelan program will end at midnight on Monday, July 4th 2022.  Attendees are free to come and go from the Sammelan event at any time.

 

Transportation:

Q1: Is there parking available at the Sammelan location?

A: Yes, there are about 2000 spaces for self-parking. Additionally, valet parking may be available at an additional cost.

 

Q2: Will there be shuttle service from the Hotel to the venue?

A: The three hotels are within a short walking distance to the San Jose Convention Center, which is the venue for the Sammelan. The Convention Hotels do not offer shuttle services to Bay Area airports or to other locations. Please use Uber, Lyft or one of the other available taxi/shuttle services.

 

Food:

Q1: Will Konkani food be served?

A: Yes, we are planning on serving many Konkani dishes.

 

Q2: What time will breakfast, lunch and dinner be served?

A: Breakfast is from 7 to 8:30 am, Lunch is from 12 to 1:30 pm and Dinner is from 7.30pm – 9.00pm. Snacks will also be served between 3:30 to 4:30pm. All meals are for registrants only.

 

Facilities & Hotel:

Q1: Is the Sammelan location handicap accessible?

A: Yes, it is handicap accessible.

 

Q2: Will wheelchairs be provided for registrants that are physically impaired ?

A: Yes, wheelchairs can be provided. Please send email to askammani@konkanisammelan.org before June 15 2022 if you need a wheelchair.

 

Q3: Which hotel is closest to the Sammelan location?

The nearest hotels are the Hilton San Jose, San Jose Marriot, and the Hyatt Place, San Jose. The Hilton San Jose and San Jose Marriott are directly connected with the San Jose Convention Center, where most of the Sammelan events will be held, and the Hyatt Place is right across the street from the Convention Center. 

Here is additional information about each of the hotels.

Hilton San Jose

Hyatt Place Brochure

The San Jose Marriott


Hotel Parking:

We will publish the parking rate later.

 

Q4: Is the hotel cost covered by the cost of registration?

A: The registration cost only covers the attendance to the Sammelan and does not cover Hotel costs. You will have to book the Hotel separately.

 

Q5: How far is the Venue and Hotel from the Airport?

A: The venue and hotels are located in downtown San Jose, minutes away from San Jose’s Norman Y. Mineta International Airport. 

 

Q6. What is the negotiated discounted rate for the hotel booking?

A. The negotiated contracted discounted rates for booking rooms at the hotels are no longer available after June 3, 2022.

 

Q7. Which days are the discounted hotel rate available?

A. The negotiated discounted rates for hotels are no longer available after June 3, 2022. You are requested to book your rooms directly with the hotels after this date. 

 

Q8. What is the Group code for reserving the rooms?

A. The Group code and details of reserving/booking a hotel room will be provided in the confirmation email that you will receive after registering for the Sammelan. The negotiated discounted rates for hotels are no longer available after June 3, 2022. You are requested to book your rooms directly with the hotels after this date.

 

Program:

Q1: Is there separate programming for adults and youth?

A: Some programs are applicable for all age groups. Some programs are catered to certain age groups.

 

Q2: Where will youth and young adult related programs take place?

A: The Youth (ages 13 - 17) and Young Adults (ages 18-35) will have an entire set of events to meet and connect with one another at the lower level of the San Jose Convention Center. Youth participants can also register for the art exhibition.

 

Q3: Are special programs planned for kids ?

A: Yes, while the adults are engaged in the Sammelan activities, we are planning on having activities for 3 different Kids age groups as below:

Ages 5 - 9

Ages 10 -12 

Ages 13 - 17

Programming information will be available at http://konkanisammelan.org and kids can also register for the art exhibition.

 

General Questions:

Q1. What is the history of the Konkani Sammelan?

The first Konkani Sammelan was held in 1996 in the state of New Jersey. It was an earnest endeavor by the original Konkani migrants, to facilitate the inter-mingling of Konkanis in the North American Region. Under the able leadership and foresight of its founding members, a not-for-profit organization, NAKA (North American Konkani Association) was formed soon after the first Sammelan. Since then, the Sammelans have been held across various locations in North America such as Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto, New Jersey and Atlanta. The number of attendees has increased progressively along with the steadily growing numbers of the Konkani diaspora in North Americas. The first Konkani Sammelan in 1996 was host to 400 attendees vis-a-vis 1800 delegates attended the last Sammelan. We expect around 2000 people to attend the 2020 Sammelan in San Jose, CA. 

 

Q2. Why should I attend the Konkani Sammelan?

A. There are many reasons you may want to attend the Sammelan. It is a unique medium for Konkani’s to connect with each other through a formalized system which integrates the need of a community to socialize with the hope of its denizens to showcase and protect its cultural diversity. Far from being a mere cultural extravaganza, the Konkani Sammelan supports and fosters communal harmony and is the binding force that retains and encourages a sense of kinship and pride. It represents our ability to adapt as a race, grow as a community and mature as individuals. When a group of people, no matter its scale, starts sharing common ways of thinking, feeling and socializing, culture emerges. With collective synergies, we strive to enhance the ideologies, systems and common code of ethics that bind us into this inclusive fabric of society. Language is the key that unifies and gives structure to these value systems and camaraderie is the thread that weaves all these elements into social fabric.