On 2 November, the Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant touched down at Mangaluru International Airport, where members of the cultural group Mandd Sobhann greeted him ahead of the inaugural World Konkani Music Mega Convention.
The four‑day inauguration ceremony is slated for 3 November at Mangaluru Town Hall, after which the convention will run until 15 November. Organised by Mandd Sobhann, the event aims to unite thousands of Konkani singers, composers and cultural troupes from India and abroad under one roof.
A centerpiece of the programme is a Guinness World Record attempt titled “Konko’nni Niro’ntori – So’msar So’raso’ri” (Eternal Konkani – Unto the World’s End). Participants plan an uninterrupted singing marathon lasting 12 days, 12 hours and 12 minutes, featuring more than 6,789 vocalists, over 4,500 songs and contributions from 250 composers. Roughly 300 teams will each perform for an hour, with the schedule designed so that no song or singer repeats.
Mandd Sobhann, founded in 1986, uses the convention to mark its Ruby Jubilee – four decades of promoting Konkani language, literature, music and theatre. The celebration also honours the memory of late Eric Ozario, the organisation’s Gurkar, whose vision was to project Konkani music onto a global stage.
Artists from Australia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and several Indian states are expected to join, turning Mangaluru into a hub for Konkani culture. The Chief Minister’s presence adds political weight to the festivities, underscoring the state’s support for linguistic heritage.
With thousands of voices set to create a continuous musical tapestry, the convention promises to spotlight Konkani art and foster cross‑border community ties.
Image: Wikipedia — Pramod Sawant
📰 Source: Mangalorean News