The concluding part of the 48th edition of Manddo Festival was held yesterday, 12thinst., at Kala Academy Hall, Panjim, attended very regretfully by a thin number of attendees. It was a pity to see such a small crowd attending such a big Goan event. If I remember well, it was in 1970 that first time I attended the Manddo Festival held at Cine Nacional, Panjim, attended by elite Goan community members, all of them very elegantly dressed. Men wearing Suit or Coat or Tie but none in Shorts and T. Shirts.
One of the Adults groups
That year the non-Goan Governor of Goa was the chief guest and he along with his family attended the Function till the last moment having magnetized to his Seat because of the beauty of rendering Manddos with beautiful voices by the beautiful singers. The Governor in his brief speech remarked saying “Nowhere else in India I saw such a great traditional song as Manddo”. Then he went further and said, “though I don’t understand the language of the Manddo but listening to the Tune, Music and voices even by the children, I feel great. This great experience of witnessing Goan Manddo Festival will never die from my memory”, concluded the Governor.
One of the Teenagers
Where is that greatness gone now? Today among the members of audience you see very shabbily dressed people, shouting and talking in the hall loudly and disturbing others thereby showing they are ill mannered Goans who are not meant to attend such a great occasion as Manddo Festival. It is this attendance that is partly responsible to diminish the greatness of Manddo.
Four Compeers: Nifa D'Silva -Dr. Bikazi Ghanekar-Agnel deBorim - Shakila
During those days, the participating groups had class in them, class in composing, class in singing, class in music, class in dressing and class in presenting themselves from the stage. During those days though the number of participating groups was smaller yet this small number was giving something big that was extraordinary to the audience.
Dance category Mando
When and where we can get the greatness of Congottchim Lahram? The beauty of Mapusa Group? The elegance of Saligao, Curtorim, Benaulim, Loutolim, Kalafura, Merces etc?
When carefully thought, it looks to me that because of the low standard of the Manddos the real Manddo audience are refusing to patronize this event with their presence in the audience.
Another Dance Manddo
In order to revive the sagging image of Manddo Festival, something drastic has to be done to bring back the Manddo audience and Manddo standard to the previous level. Otherwise this great item of Goan tradition will suffer a great setback.
Senior Citizens
There is a special authority to handle Manddo Festivals every year, this authority must conduct lessons on Manddos and training how to compose and sing Manddos. Our elders expert in this field are no more now and because they were knowledgeable in this field, they were performing well. In their absence the class of Manddo is also gone down. Hence, the need for creating the new crop of Manddoists.
Teenagers
That the organizers are doing the great job of regularly organizing this event is something to be admired yet they need to go beyond this step.
During those days, there was only one Compeer Dr. Bikaji Ghanekar who was doing wonderful job but now there are four and to the solace of the audience all four have done their jobs wonderfully.
One more Teenagers
Compared to the first day’s proceeding, the second day was better in all the categories where the total number of items were 23. Hence, the delay in completing the programme. In future the organizers must avoid such delays.
Dpty. CM with organisers
The Deputy Chief Minister of Goa, Francis D’Souza attended today’s function as Chief Guest and in his brief speech lamented the low attendance.
While I was in Kuwait, on behalf of Kuwait Konknni Kendr, we used to give financial support to this Festival thereby lowering the financial burden of the organizers to organize this festival.
The highest award for this year – Manddo Award 2014 went to Manddo Mogui Margao.
In Dance category, the first prize was shared between Orlim & Manddo Mogui Margao.
For Traditional Manddo, first prize went to Manddo Mogui while for original Manddo, the first prize went to Orlim group, so too for Teenagers group.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 7501394349
