Jun 9, 2010
- Mandd Sobhann celebrates Silver Jubilee in style
A 25 day grand fiesta awaits all Konkani enthusiasts as Mandd Sobhann, the world’s premier Konkani cultural organization is all set to celebrate stepping into the 25th year of its eventful existence in a befitting way. Come November and Konkani aficionados will get soaked in the realm of a plethora of festivities doled out as part of the First World Konkani Cultural Convention to be held between November 25-December 19, 2010 at Kelaangann, Mangalore. With this cultural extravaganza Mandd Sobhann is all set to create another record in its impressive list of achievements that also includes the Guinness Book of World Record created in 2008.
Mandd Sobhann has established a reputation of carrying out events with grandiosity that calls for meticulous planning, groundwork, proper execution and follow-up action. The First World Konkani Cultural Convention (WKCC) has adequate ingredients to make into another momentous event and add another feather in the cap of the crowing glory of Mandd Sobhann’s impeccable track record. It is going to be an epoch-making event and to put it briefly is in the long line of the firsts and the biggest of its kind of programmes in the continuous and unflinching efforts to keep the Konkani flag flying high atop the globe and to enhance Konkani ‘Swabhiman’.
Activities Galore
Over 60 Konkani troupes from across the globe with over 1000 artistes belonging to various castes, creeds, dialects and regions will present a kaleidoscope of events that includes folk, theatre, musical and dance performances. In addition to this the 25-day long cultural carnival also offers Konkani Film Festival, Konkani Food Festival, Konkani Youth Festival, Konkani Art Festival, Konkani Kavita Fest, Konkani Bazaar and competitions in Konkani games, costumes and cuisine, in a bid to make it a memorable event. It is an effort in the long and demanding journey towards revitalizing and reviving Konkani art and culture. The 2nd Global Konkani Music awards and 6th Carvalho Gharaanne Thomas Stephen Konkani Kendra Kalaakaar Puraskar will also be presented on this momentous occasion.
The organizers have plans to recognize and honour about 25 institutions/individuals from around the world that have enriched Konkani culture. Seminars will also be held on various aspects of Konkani Culture, in order to provide the people a cultural bonanza hitherto unheard and unseen in Konkani culture.
Speaking to daijiworld, Eric Ozario, Gurkar of Mandd Sobhann said “WKCC will focus only on culture, in order to forge unity among Konkani speaking people by celebrating our culture in all its variety from folk, theatre, music, dance and all that exhibits Konkani performing arts in all its magnificence and grandeur. It is a celebration of Konkani culture in all its variety and all Konkanis irrespective of race, religion, caste and creed will represent in the event. So it does not represent any particular community”.
People’s participation is a must for the success of any event. The organizers are therefore trying to spread the message of ‘celebrating unity in diversity’ in the true sense by inviting Konkani speaking people spread across the globe to participate in this gala event. It can be in the form of participation of folk, theatre, music or dance troupes, recognizing and honoring 25 institutions/individuals from all over the world who have strived to keep Konkani culture alive in that particular region, inviting Konkani dignitaries to grace the occasion, participating in the form of sending recommendations for the various awards instituted on the occasion and finally participation by witnessing the fete and by contributing in whatever possible way towards meeting the expenses of organizing this event.
Leaving an Imprint
Eric Ozario explains “The Guinness Book of World Records helped to fly the Konkani flag high and project Konkani at the world level. In whatever we do we have tried to make it extraordinary so that it brings respect to the language and culture. We have planned this mega event in the same earnestness and aspiration to make it a grand success by celebrating Konkani unity and diversity”. True to its global stature the Chief Ministers of Goa and Maharashtra are expected to participate in the opening or the closing ceremony of the event. Many Konkani luminaries are also expected to grace the occasion with their valuable presence.
It is a big budget event with a budget estimate of about Rs 50 lakhs and the organizers are working hard to make it a grand success. “We are here to project Konkani and we will start going round and meet people and institutions to elicit their support. We are definitely looking for participation from outside India. Otherwise there is no meaning in organizing a world-level cultural event”, Eric Ozario contends.
A colourful grand inaugural ceremony will be held on Thursday November 25, 2010 with Konkani culture and tradition on display followed by an equally effulgent closing ceremony to give a grand finale to the landmark event. This is going to be a unique event in celebrating Konkani unity in all its diversity. Daijiworld.com, the popular web portal, has agreed to be the global media partner for this gala event.
The organizers have invited entries from troupes to participate in this historic event. Applications should reach the organizers with relevant details before 30th September, 2010. The organizers will arrange for their boarding and lodging, reimburse transport expenses and will provide moderate amount of remuneration.
Entries are also invited to the 2nd Global Konkani Music Awards in 5 categories that includes best singer (male) best singer (female), best song – music, best song – lyrics and best Album 2009. Each award comprises cash prize of Rs. 25,000 and a trophy.
Applications/nominations are also invited from institutions/individuals who have enriched Konkani culture with their untiring efforts. 25 organizations/individuals will be selected from among the nominations received taking into consideration their contributions to promote and conserve Konkani culture.
Mandd Sobhann expects that Konkani speaking people spread across the globe partake in this historic event in large numbers. Those who are interested can log on to the website www.kalaangann.com for more details and application forms. The last date to reach the applications is on or before September 30, 2010.
Mandd Sobhann is 25
The event certainly befits the grand occasion of celebrating Mandd Sobhann stepping into the 25th year, with a remarkable list of achievements to its credit. Having realized that Konkani was on the verge of extinction due to the onslaught of western culture following the era of globalization the need was felt to conserve our unique cultural identity. This paved the way for the setting up of Mandd Sobhann (beautiful stage) in 1986 which was established with the cardinal objective of searching for Konkani identity in Konkani music with extra focus on Konkani folk.
What began as an experiment in music soon spread its tentacles to 21 other experiments dealing with a plethora of aspects relating to Konkani culture. In the process Mandd Sobhann grew into an organization of repute for its tireless work to revitalize and revive Konkani culture. In the last 25 years it has carved out a niche as the world’s premier Konkani cultural organization doing yeoman’s service to spread the richness of Konkani all around.
Mandd Sobhann deserves rich kudos for its unparalleled achievements in its endeavor to make Konkani people proud of their heritage and culture.
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