The Goa Cultural and Social Centre has been encouraging young
talent to come forward, presenting them with a grand stage at the All Goa State
Level Mando Festival. This year, the Mando festival was held at Institute
Menezes Braganza hall, Panjim over two days and though the number of
participation was less, the enthusiasm and zest for great music made up for it.
Talent was not in short supply at all as smiling faces of the children, gave
hope to the audience that this form of traditional music will go on for more
generations to come. With four major categories, the festival saw the
participation of different schools and groups across Goa from the very young to
groups that are making the effort to keep Mando alive.
Children’s category
winner: Crescendo, Mapusa
In the Children’s category, Crescendo, Mapusa, won the first
prize while Sant Matevachim Noketram, Azossim won the second prize and Little
Flower of Jesus High School, Calangute was awarded the third place.
Crescendo, Mapusa group was led by their teacher, Svetlana
Rodrigues Fernandes, with students below the age of 12 years making up the
group. The students were Zyran Fernandes, Chenoa Saldanha, Matt Rodrgiues,
Eleanor De Sa, Ashveel Dias, Evette D’Souza, Ryan Alvares, Rennabelle
Fernandes, Avalon Fernandes and Frieda Lobo. The musicians were Velerio
Mascarenhas on violin, Serilda Carvalho on guitar, Janice Parras on violin and
Malcolm Rodrigues on ghumot. “This was the first time Crescendo participated in
the Children’s category and Svetlana Rodrigues did a wonderful job of leading
the group. The members are all part of the music school and the children are
also musicians who play different instruments. If children get the right
experience of Mando, it is training the next generation of Mando singers and
musicians. The Mando festival especially the organisers, Francisco Noronha and
Milagres Fernandes, give the children a great platform by retaining the
children’s category,” says Fr Ramiro Luis, Director of Crescendo and assistant
professor, Psychology at St Xavier’s College, Mapusa. Crescendo, Mapusa
performed the Mando, ‘Bosun Fulani’and Dulpod, ‘Aitara Sonta Misako’.
Teenager’s category
winner: Ruzaieche Fulte Kolle, Navelim
Ruzaieche Fulte Kolle, Navelim won the first prize in the
Teenager’s category, followed by Spring Valleyche Fultem Bonge, Pilerne and
Bhagevont Terezachim, Pormollit Fullam, Candolim. The group formed by the
students of Rosary Higher Secondary School, Navelim and was led by their
biology professor, Rolita Judy Pires, and the participants included Victoria Da
Costa, Sherwin Dias, Ruella Gomes, Alroy Fernandes, Danielle Sales, Daiwik
Dias. Massima Rodrigues, Joshua Vaz, Saphira Pires and Mashvik Vaz. The
musicians for the Mando were Vozlar Pereira, Alric Antao and Marc Mascarenhas
and Rodwin Dias. The participants are students of Class 11 and 12 from all the
streams in the higher secondary school. Ruchita Gomes selected the Mando and
Dulpod and Adrielle Antao did the music score. Rolita was assisted by Alico
Fernandes, a communication skills professor in the vocation stream. “This is
the first time we participated in the festival and the students were excited to
win the competition. I wanted to give the students exposure to the traditional
form through Mando and now through them more children will be interested in the
music,” says Rolita, who was encouraged by the principal of the school,
Margaret Dias.
Traditional category
winner: De Amor, Sirsaim
De Amor, Sirsaim
bagged the first place in the Traditional category. Sant Matevachim Noketram,
Azossim and Sant Juze Vazachim Pavlam, Cortalim were awarded second and third
prizes, respectively. The group was led by Worrel D’Souza and the participants
included Fr Peter Britto, Fr John Fernandes, Fr Joephil Dias, Walter Lobo,
Jeffrey Viegas, Sweezel Carvalho, Emendra Moniz, Nikita Machado, Rosanne Coutinho,
Clarissa Camelo and Janice Parras. The musicians included Velerio Mascarenhas,
Cleon D’Souza, Serilda Carvalho and Ashley D’Souza. The Mando, ‘Soglench Mhojem
Vidu Chintunum’. “The group was initially formed by students from St Xavier’s
College who were earlier part of the Mando group. We have members from
different parts of Goa and through the practises, we get to reunite with our
friends. This year, we had just a few weeks of training, but we kept in touch
by sharing notes online. Everyone practised their parts individually before
meeting for the group rehearsals,” says Worrel, an assistant professor at St
Xavier’s College, Mapusa.
Original category
winner: De Amor, Sirsaim
In the Original
category, De Amor, Sirsaim bagged the first place, the second prize was won by
Sant Matevachim Noketram, Azossim and third prize by Old Goachi Porzolit Fulam,
Old Goa. “Fr Peter Britto started working on the song from last year itself but
we waited to write the Dulpod a little later as it has to be on current topics.
Jeffery Viegas, Velrio Mascarenhas, Serilda Carvalho and Fr Joephil Dias helped
him in arranging the music.”
Sant
Matevachim Noketram, Azossim performed a special Mando for the dance category.
