Deusua group bags Mando Award again

PANAJI: Goenchim Kirnnam, Deusua, have bagged the Mando Award at the 47th state-level mando festival, organized by the Goa cultural and social centre, for the third consecutive year.
The festival was held over two days last week in collaboration with the department of art and culture and the Kala Academy at Campal.
This year, too, the troupe led by Cosma Fernandes, under the guidance of Fr Olavo Caiado, bagged the overall prize, the first prizes in the original and traditional categories, and the second in the dance category.
Caiado also won the second prize for lyrics and the third for music.
Goenchim Noketram, Sarzora, was another troupe to take home several prizes -second in the traditional and original categories, and first in the dance category.
Sant Antonicho Suadik Naad, Majorda, won the third prize in the traditional category, while Mando Mogi, Margao, bagged the third slot in the original category. The Margao troupe bagged the third place in the dance category too.
In the senior citizens' category, Menino Jesus Kala Association, Chinchinim, won the consolation prize.
In the children's category, the first three prizes went to Little Flower of Jesus High School, Calangute; Porvorichim Sobit Fulam, Porvorim; and Manorachim Mogrim, Manora-Raia respectively.
The teenage category saw the consolation prize go to St Xavier's Collegicho Naad, Mapusa.
Fr Luis Gomes (Mando Mogi, Margao) and Joao Francisco da Silva (Ideal Iskollachim Noketram) won the first and third prizes for lyrics.
Marianela P M Dias (Goenchim Nokhetram, Sarzora), Anthony Vaz (St Xavier's Collegicho Naad, Mapusa) won the first and second prizes for music.
Commissioner for NRI affairs, Wilfred Mesquita, who was the chief guest at the concluding ceremony, highlighted the importance of preserving Goa's age-old traditions of mando and dulpods for posterity.
MLAs Nilesh Cabral and Rohan Khaunte were also present.
Earlier, president of the Goa cultural and social centre, Panaji, Milagres Fernandes welcomed the guests, while vice-president Issac Dias proposed the vote of thanks. The function was compered by Bikaji Ghanekar, Ninfa da Silva and Shakila Shaikh.