Dolcy D’Cruz
One of Goa’s most treasured musical legacies, the Mando, has travelled gracefully through generations, preserved like a family heirloom in Konkani. In contrast, the lively Dulpod belongs to the streets and the people, spirited, sharp, and often laced with witty takes on Goa’s social and current realities. These two worlds meet only once each year, when their voices rise together on a single stage. That rare moment arrives at the 58th All Goa State Level Mando Festival, set to fill the Institute Menezes Braganza Auditorium in Panjim with melody and folklore on December 11 and 12, from 6 pm onwards. Organised by the Goa Cultural and Social Centre, the festival will be compered by Agnelo Fernandes (Borim) Armando Fernandes (Borim). The competition will be also telecasted live on their YouTube channels for viewers across the world. All Goa State Level Mando Festival is free and open to all to enjoy two evenings of melodious voices and music.
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The competition returns this year with renewed enthusiasm, especially with seven children’s groups, including first time entrants Sant Tomeche Suadik Talle, Aldona and Porzolit Kirnam, Navelim. The General Secretary of the Goa Cultural and Social Centre, Milagres Fernandes, expressed happiness at the rise in young participants. He says, “All credit goes to the teachers and leaders, all musicians, singers, dancers, composers, they take a lot of pain.” Long-standing groups like Sant Matevachim Noketram – Azossim and St Xavier’s Collegicho Naad, Mapusa continue their support, Milagres emphasises that performers come for cultural pride, “They come for the love of the Konkani language and to upkeep our culture.” Sant Tomeche Suadik Talle, Aldona, is a newly formed ensemble of Sunday Catechism children who usually come together as a small parish choir. Guided and inspired by Fr Thomas Lobo, parish priest of St Thomas Church, Aldon, the children, aged 12 and below, first began singing regularly for church occasions such as Mother’s Day, Grandparents’ Day and the parish mando festival. Catechist Betty Fernandes, who assists Fr Tomas and trains the children, says the group’s participation in the Mando competition grew naturally from their love for music. “The children love singing; they enjoy performing on stage, and they are very excited for this first public mando performance,” she shares. The group includes 11 children and three adult musicians, making a total of 14 members. Though they had never attended a mando competition before, their familiarity with church performances and parish festivals helped them embrace the mandos style with confidence. The Don Bosco College, Panjim group enters this year’s festival as a unique blend of faculty and students, performing together in the traditional category. Led by faculty member Prissie Fernandes, the group includes 14 members, supported by two musicians. Even the college’s newly appointed principal, Dr Teotone Vaz, who joined just days ago, is part of the ensemble. The group began rehearsing in early December. For nearly all members, this is their first experience performing in a mando competition. Prissie shares, “We are all new to this but everyone is excited because it’s a completely different style of music for us.”
