More troupes put on a show at mando fest

PANAJI: The annual mando festival celebrated its 47th run with some colourful acts of the folk music form.
Divided into categories for children, teenagers, traditional, original, and dance groups, it saw troupes from different cultural organizations from across the state participate in the two-day event.
Speaking on the progress of the festival, Francisco Noronha, general secretary of the organizer-Goa Cultural and Social Centre, Panaji-said more groups have been showing a keen interest in the annual event.
"We have 46 troupes from north and south Goa participating in this year's festival as compared to last year's 41 troupes," he said. He admitted though that this year the participation in the children and teenagers' categories have "not been much". "But most of the musicians and singers in the senior categories are youngsters," he quickly added.
Mentioning a facet from the history of the mando, Noronha said this song-and-dance form once flourished at Goan Catholic weddings and was one of the main features, like the raising of the toast.
"To help this tradition flourish financial assistance is the need of the hour," he told the audience. Courting controversy he added, "We have been receiving 1 lakh from the art and culture department annually for the past 7-8 years and we are grateful to them. But much more work (towards getting finances) has to be done by the centre (Goa Cultural and Social Centre) to keep this festival growing every year."
In his speech, Kala Academy chairman and St Andre MLA Vishnu Surya Wagh said the mandos and dulpods today are reflecting the latest social issues gripping the state.
The event, organized in collaboration with the art and culture department and Kala Academy, was inaugurated by chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who skipped a speech, leaving immediately after lighting the lamp.