The stage is set for the strong competition of the sweetest voices, the right beats of music and the synchronised choreography of the participants at the 56th All Goa State Level Mando Festival. The two-day annual festival organised by Goa Cultural and Social Centre will be held on December 12 and 13 at Institute Menezes Braganza Hall, Panjim from 6 pm onwards and will see witness the presentation of 29 Mandos this year, through the various groups.
One of the oldest genres of music, the Mando has been preserved
for generations in Goa and though it was influenced by Portuguese, it
originated in Konkani and has always used only Konkani words. On the other
hand, Dulpods are songs of the masses and touches upon social and current
issues in Goa often with sarcasm. These Mandos and dulpods are even featured in
films especially Konkani films. From one of the earliest biggest Konkani hit
film, ‘Amchem Noxib’ in 1963 which featured ‘Mando Goencho Khoro,’ the songs
still have its unique charm and was featured even in the latest Konkani film,
‘Osmitay’ in 2023 where the Mando group, Kepemchim Kirnnam, performed
‘Doryachem Lharari’ as a Mando and ‘Hanv Saiba Poltoddi Vetam’ as a Dekhnni.
The Mando’s beauty continues to shines through its music and it’s sharply
written lyrics as songs of love, yearning and nostalgia.
Goa Cultural and Social Centre put in all efforts to give
thousands of singers, musicians and lyrists, a platform to showcase their
talent to a wider audience. Every year, the festival features five categories,
children, teenager, original, traditional and dance category. This year
promises to be great show with many strong groups making a comeback into the
competition.
President of Goa Cultural and Social Centre, Francisco Noronha,
is looking forward to welcoming the audience at this Mando festival. “This
year, we have some new groups and some groups which have performed and won
awards in the past. Curtorim village has two strong groups in this competition,
a village where Mando is believed to be originated. The children and teenager
category also has a new group through Kansavlachem Salkam from Cansaulim,” says
Francisco.
Unfortunately, many school and college groups could not
participate in the competition as the holiday was extended due to the National
Games in the state which pushed the exams dates further ahead. “There are many
priests who have supported the festival by forming different groups and taking
Mando to their parishioners. Fr Olavo Caido and Fr Tomas Lobo have also
informed that they will participate in the competition next year,” adds
Francisco.
Every year, the committee releases a special souvenir which
features all the original songs and details about the groups performing at the
festival. Two copies of these souvenirs are presented to the Goa State Central
Library annually.
The General Secretary of the Goa Cultural and Social Centre,
Milagres Fernandes, informs that the competition will be also telecasted live
on their YouTube channels for viewers across the world. “Compared to the
previous years since Covid-19, there will be more groups at this competition.
There are 29 performances including four children groups, 5 teenager groups, 7
Original groups, 7 traditional groups and 6 dance groups,” says Milagres.
All
Goa State Level Mando Festival is free and open to all to enjoy two evenings of
melodious voices and music. The show will be compered by the brother duo of
Agnelo and Armando Fernandes from Borim. Milagres says that he feels content
that the musical legacy of Mando is safe in the hands of the young and through
their voices and music, Mando will continue for years to come.