Mangaluru became the global stage for Konkani culture on Tuesday morning, November 3, 2026, as Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant inaugurated the first World Konkani Music Conference at Town Hall. This international event, a highlight of Konkani cultural organization Mandd Sobhann's 40th anniversary, will run for 13 days, concluding on November 15.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Sawant extended his congratulations to Mandd Sobhann and the organizing committee. He emphasized the unifying power of the Konkani language and emotions, despite its various dialects. A significant announcement from the Chief Minister was the Goa government's commitment to consider Konkani achievers residing outside Goa for its prestigious state awards, acknowledging their vital contributions. Sawant lauded the dedication of Mangaluru's Konkani-speaking populace for preserving the language without formal government backing, drawing parallels between Goa and coastal Karnataka's shared coastline, culture, and lifestyle, expressing hope for continued cultural synergy.
A central feature of the conference is an ambitious attempt to secure a Guinness World Record with 'Konkani Niranthari – Sonsar Sorosori', a 12-day continuous singing marathon. This unprecedented event is set to feature 300 singing teams from across the globe, with over 6,700 singers participating, including 53 teams from Goa. Organizers plan to present more than 4,500 distinct Konkani songs, representing diverse dialects, communities, and musical traditions, ensuring no repetition of songs or singers.
The conference is dedicated to the memory of late Eric Ozario, the visionary founder of Mandd Sobhann, whose profound contributions to Konkani language and culture were recalled by Calangute MLA Michael Lobo. Lobo also expressed delight at the strong participation from Goa and wished all teams success.
Bishop of the Mangaluru Diocese, Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha, offered his blessings for the event. Dignitaries present included Karnataka Legislative Council member Ivan D'Souza, Goa MLAs Michael Lobo and Delilah Lobo, reception committee member Dolphy Prashanth D'Souza, Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy president Stany Alvares, Joyce Ozario, Roy Castelino, Prakash Shetty Mangaluru, Eric Correia, Ronald Sylvan D'Souza, and Krishnaprasad. Mandd Sobhann president Louis J. Pinto welcomed attendees, and Rainel Sequeira expertly compered the proceedings.
Early on Tuesday morning, at 6 am, Chief Minister Sawant formally launched the continuous singing marathon by playing the Ghumat, a traditional Konkani percussion instrument, setting the stage for a historic cultural endeavor.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Mangalore Today