Traditional Folklore of Goa-MANDO

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Goa is a cosmopolitan city. Festivals and fairs is glorified in this part of region.Goa carnival is one of the peculiar festival that binds people of all religion and they actively participate in it.
Goa is a land of highly talented and artistic people with a rich cultural combination blending East and West. Music and dance and traditional attire depict tradition of rural Goa. The urbanites have adapted to modern and popular music styles.

Amongst various traditional songs MANDO attracts people of all communities. 'Mando', is a love song, sung by Goan Catholics with a group on the beats of Ghumat and romantic strings of violin.

The Mando is classical in nature, and has attained a distinctive, sophistication and classiness over the ages. The most impressive part of the song is that it moves majestically in a slow, melodious rhythm, with dignity and grace. The dance steps make an inescapable showground of magnetism, that binds every tourist till the show ends.

The lyric goes around interesting tales of yore, of kings and their men and of course romantic tales that once made their ancient heart bloom in springs.

Although the mando cannot strictly be classified as traditional folk song form; it has been established in Goa for many a year. The mando is very popular among the Christian community in Goa. In the grandest of traditions, the mando-singer was invited specially on occasion of a wedding or some grand celebration. There he would often compose special mandos in honour of the bridal couple, whose qualities were described in detail in the mando.

This form of music is also been played in restaurants and music concerts organized at parties. The Mando song sets the mood and attracts thousands of tourists from all over the globe.

Deepa .J.Dinakar

MAJM IVth Sem
IMCR, HUBLI