Mangaluru's Town Hall buzzed with global Konkani spirit on Tuesday as the first World Konkani Music Mega Convention commenced, inaugurated by Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant and blessed by Bishop Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha of the Mangaluru Diocese. This 13-day international gathering, continuing until November 15, aims to unite Konkani-speaking communities worldwide and celebrate their rich musical and cultural heritage.
A standout moment on the opening day featured Bhatkal's Nawayath Mahfil team, whose distinctive presentation of Nawayathi language, closely related to Konkani, captivated the audience. Performing between 3 pm and 4 pm, the 18-member team, including lyricists Noufil Damudi, Samiullah Barmawar, and Jeelani Shabandari, captivated listeners. They presented a series of Islamic songs and Nawayathi compositions without musical instruments, relying solely on rhythm, melody, and vocal expression while dressed in traditional Nawayath Islamic attire. Nawayath Mahfil Secretary Shabbir Ajaib noted the team's 45-day preparation for their unique performance.
Organised by Mandd Sobhann in celebration of its 40th anniversary, the convention also embarks on an ambitious Guinness World Record attempt. Titled 'Konkani Nirantari – Sansar Sorsori' (Konkani Music Without Interruption), this challenge seeks to achieve 12 days, 12 hours, and 12 minutes of continuous Konkani singing. Over 6,700 singers from nearly 300 teams will perform more than 4,500 songs by over 250 musicians and lyricists, with organisers ensuring no repetitions of either singers or songs.
Chief Minister Sawant formally launched the record attempt by playing the traditional Konkani percussion instrument, the 'Ghumat', during the 5 am inauguration. Addressing the attendees, he commended Mandd Sobhann's dedication to preserving and promoting Konkani. He highlighted the shared cultural identity among Konkani speakers despite dialectal variations, contrasting Goa's official language status and government support with coastal Karnataka's community-driven efforts. Sawant also indicated that the Goa government would consider recognising Konkani advocates beyond its state borders. Participating teams include those from various parts of India, Australia, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar, with Goa alone contributing 53 teams.
Image: sahilonline.org
đź“° Source: Sahil Online