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38th Mando Festival was held at the Don Bosco Indoor Hall this evening at 1640 hrs onwards. There were 17 groups five in the Junior and in the Senior Group Dance Category 1 traditional category 6 original category 4 opera style category 1. However the 17 groups all hailed from Salcete 4 nos Ilhas (Tiswadi) two and Bardez one. The Fatordechim Fulam led by Parish Priest Fr Romano Gonsalves participated in all categories and others in one or two categories. The audience mainly from Panaji and others including next of kin relative and friends of the participants senior citizens and a fair sprinkling of nuns and priests were seen. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, made a bold commitment this time,ensuring the Goa Cultural & Social Centre, which is a registered body since 1971 and has been in the fore front of staging the function festival since 1974 (earlier the function was organised either by Clube Nacional or the Kankani Basha Mandal since 1965)that his Government will soon come out with a policy to ensure that all the performing arts of Goan origin will be preserved given encouragement and finance should not be a concern. Having spent crores for IFFI the festival which will commence in the next 48 hours he said that financing local theatros mandos etc will not be a problem. He bluntly admitted his ignorance on the origins of mandos and dulpods or dekhnis but since the last four years in power he has been able to appreciate the same. He promised the vast audience of nearly 800 that come 31st December 2004 the organisation will be provided a full office. This committments received a thunderous applause from the audience. This writer who interacted with several senior citizens learnt that they were not too happy about the quality of dance costumes and presentation there is much more to be done to revive the true spirit of yesteryears. The President of the Centre Mr Antonio Ivor Barreto when quizzed by this writer admitted that things were not up to the mark, he is confident that with the promise of a new office he will be able to infuse more enthusiasm and vigour. He admitted that there was a lackadaisical efforts both on the part of the Government and the committee members for the simple reason that most are Government servants. When asked why was there no demand for budgetary support from the State Government he said no efforts were made but that we did recieve some sponsorship for the souvenir by way of advertisements from Government otherwise the committee paid a meagre sum for those coming from beyond 1000 kms. This resulted in poor participation. He could not convince the writer why there was no participation in the Film Festival cultural programme when this could be a time opportune to show case Goa's traditional Mandos Dulpods Dekhnis which are the preserve of the Catholics while the Dhalo and Fugdi are associated with the Hindus. The Mandos are basically emotive songs lyrics and music centred around issues of love hatred envy jealousy which find expression in words and songs while the dulpods are intended to chastisize a particular social ill or happening > In a feudalist society the Bakars were subjected to ridicule by the mundcars now the shift has been against the political set up. The traditional songs were attributed to the kunbis the gawdas fishermen toddy tappers shepherd milkmaids. The costumes for those presenting the Mandos is a dress wear associated with the landed gentry the refined class of society, hence the present day presentation suffers a degree of refinement and hence deteriorates the quality. Thankfully the violin and ghumot is still in use which maintains the tune and tenor of the songs. Minister for Water Resources was the Chairman of the organising committee. The two persons associated with the Mando Festival Mr Octavio Rodrigues and Dr Bhicaji Ghanekar have maintained the traditional touch but deserve to do much more to meet the present day requirements. They have no event manager said one of the participants and sound acoustics are poor. Atleast one person who has been visiting the same for several years found the stereo type jokes of Dr Ghanekar out of tune -- can't we have a change he demanded -- there is a Prince Jacob and many others why not stage the function at dusk in open air he felt that many such changes will add more colour to the show. Mr Issac Dias the Treasurer and associated with the Mando was presented a shawl and brass lamp by the Chief Minister. Ms Ninfa D Silva was the other compere besides Dr Ghanekar and Gauri Kamat. The President Mr Barreto assured this writer that once the office is in place he will not only promote mandos but also cultural dances of Goa provided he is elected for the third term. There is no CD yet except a collection of few mandos. This writer can arrange to send those desirous the full words of the mandos dulpods and other traditional song on request. A souvenir was released on the ocassion as well. With hardly any scope for competition it is obvious that the Fatordechim Fulam the Curtorechim Salkam and the St Xaviers Cellgicho Nad Mapusa would vy for top honours from the Don Bosco Indoor Hall GODFREY J I GONSALVES Borda Margao Goa [EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your life partner online Go to: http://yahoo.shaadi.com/india-matrimony
