Mando, that most Goan of art forms will be showcased by the
students of the St Aloysius college in Mangaluru today. This is an initiative
by members of the management of the college to expose students to more
authentic aspects of
Goan culture.
Michael Gracias, writer and tiatr personality who is
involved in the initiative said he was earlier involved in training students
for a tiatr. The principal and registrar were very happy with the response to
that initiative and requested him to do something involving the Mando. Michael
said, “For fifteen days students have been coming for training before and after
classes. We start at 7 o’clock in the morning before the lectures, during
periods when the students are free, during the lunch break and after classes.
This initiative has attracted students from the arts, science and commerce
streams. The students are talented and motivated.”
Flora Castellino who is one of the people from the college
involved in this initiative said the Mando was selected because it was popular
and they wanted to showcase original culture which came from Goa. The students
who were selected were training very hard.
Mando is undoubtedly the music of joy. Mando songs are
played especially when two young hearts are in love. The major theme of mandos
is love. The charming singing enhances the performance. It is a musical form
that evolved during the 19th
and 20th centuries among Goan Catholics.
Instruments used in mando music are guitars, violins and the
ghumot drum.The dress worn during the mando dance is made of velvet or silk,
red, blue or green in colour, embroidered with gold (rarely with silver)
threads. A white or blue shawl is worn. The socks have to be white and the
slippers ornamented.
This is all graced with a fan, which enhances the lady’s
mood with a secret charm during the dance. This mando utsaav is sponsored by
Karnataka Adhyayana Peeta.
The traditional dresses have arrived from Goa and the
students are excited to host the event.
