By Violet Pereira, Deepak Pereira and Kiran Fernandes
Team Mangalorean

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MANGALORE, Jan 27, 2008: Not much time left now for the Brazil record to be overtaken.  In few hours time the Konkan Nirantari will be well on its way to achieving what it set out to do.  With the crossing of 6:20 pm it is hoped that a new enthusiasm will be infused in all the participants, as the goal will be nearer than ever.

From 6:20 pm to 10 pm the singing sessions will continue with a new fervour and both the organizers and the singers will actually be looking forward to the ending.  As they say, the worst is behind us and the best is yet to come!

Jeri Meri – Mumbai led by Leo Louis Fernandes is finally here taken over from Bethany Sisters at 5:25PM. The vibrant team with 46 singers namely    Alice Lewis, Antony William D'Almeida, Ashwini Walter D'Souza, Benedicta Rebello, Casian Pereira, Celine D'Souza, Christine Mathias, Denzil Denis Gonsalves, Dora Rego, Dorothy D'Souza, Flavin Cardoza, Gavian Fernandes, Glen Pereira, Harry D'Souza, Helen D'Souza, Irene Rodrigues, Jackson D'Silva, James Lobo, Jenevive Lewis, Jenifer Maria Menezes, Jessy D'Silva, John G. Mendonca, John Rodrigues, Joseph Lobo, Joyce D'Souza, Judian Pereira, Kevin D'Souza, Leena Pedru Fernandes, Lorna D'Silva, Manuel Pedru Fernandes, Marina Lobo, Milagrin Pedru Fernandes, Preema Lobo, Priscilla Fernandes, Queeny Rodrigues, Richard Castelino, Rickson Fernandes, Ron Michael Vas, Valerian D'Silva, Veeda Vaz, Velita Concessao, Veronica D'Souza, Vincent Castelino, Walter Francis D'Souza, William D'Souza, Wilson J. D'Souza

Bejai team is performing on stage with 37 singers namely Ashwin. P. Pinto, Cavin D'Souza, Celina Pinto, Celine Rodrigues, Cynthia pais, Deena Elveera D'Souza, Divya Lilly Lobo, Dolphy Lobo, Donald menezes, Everest Noronha, Franswa Menezes, geneviene tauro, Gracy D'Souza, Joshney fernandes, Joyce D'Souza, lavina fernandes, lionel rahul Pinto, lucia Pinto, maria jacintha D'Silva, Philomena Ds'Souza, Preetham fernandes, Prescilla Rodrigues, Rita Lobo, Romana nazreth,Runa Pinto, Shanthi mascarenhas, Shwetha Alisha D'Souza, Stella Cutinho, Syprian Monterio, Suasan Rasquinha, Theresa Menezes, Vincent Lovet D'Souza, Violet D'Souza and Wilma Rodrigues are singing in this team. Ivan Mascarenhas is the music director and Sylvian  D'Silva is the Co-ordinator of this team.

All the way from Germany

Mr. Michael Machado and Mrs. Evelyn Machado with their daughter Sharel Machado are in Mangalore on holidays from Heidelberg, Germany.  Sharel Machado is an ardent fan of Mangalorean.com and says "not a day goes by when I don’t access Mangalorean.com."  She says she and her family had read about the Konkani Nirantari and made it a point to view this historic event.

The Machado family from Germany

Michael & Evelyn are both very good singers and have released 3 audio cassettes (Jeevan Sangeeth, Ek Ghodi Jezu Sangatha & a perfect harmony) and 1 CD (Jeevan Sangeeth-Remixed).  They are soon going to release a second CD called "My Hometown Mangalore".

They are also good writers.  Sharel speaks very good Konkani and said she would like to stay till the end of this event.   It is no wonder that with talents such as these, the whole family is tremendously enjoying the cultural ambience at Kalangan.  The family told Mangalorean.com that they had every intention of sitting there until 10 pm.

Inching towards world record

The Konkani Nirantari world record breaking event is inching towards breaking the world record in longest singing choirs and the magical minute will arrive exactly at 6.20pm today when they will beat the earlier record held by a Brazilian team entitled Ubra Brazil. At 6.20 pm on Sunday the Konkani Niranthari would have crossed 36 hours of continuous singing by one of the world's largest choirs 1711 singers belonging to 66 groups. Totally they would have sung 665 songs when they end the Nirantari at 10pm on Sunday.

Bantwal team performed From 1.45 to 2.40 pm with 39 singers namely Aldrine Mario Pinto, Amitha Reshma D'Souza ,Arun Crasta, Arun D'Souza,Avila Priya Pinto ,Bridget Crasta ,Canute Clarence Crasta , Cyril Pinto, Dagnil Jaison Menezes, Denzil J. Lobo,Divya Pais ,Donald Maxium Noronha ,Francis Rodrigues ,George Praveen D'Souza , Gratian Alwyn Sequeira ,Janet Menezes, Jenisha Cinora D'Souza ,John Cyril D'Souza ,John Roshan Lobo, Laveena Mariet Veigas,Lavina Sylvia Pais ,Maria Renita Crasta, Melwyn Avinash Pais ,Paul Menezes , Praveen Quadras ,Preethi Maria Fernandes ,Prima Flavia Frank ,Priyanka Florie D'Souza ,Robinson Nithin Vas, Roshan Pinto,Rosita Preema Vas ,Royson Pradeep Vas ,Rubita Crasta ,Sanath Sanjeen Veigas ,Santhosh Praveen Barboza, Severin Fernandes ,Sushma Joylin Carnelio ,Vijay Vas ,Wilson Edwin Pais. Alex Crasta was the Music Director with Co-Ordinator  Valerian Crasta

Singing on Global Warming

It is quite apt that the magical moment of breaking the record at 6.20 pm will be performed by a choir of elderly Konkani community singing group from Jeri Meri - Mumbai. True to their concern they have composed a song in Konkani on global warming which will be the record breaking song. Speaking to Mangalorean.com Mr. Victor Concessao, the Music Director of the team said that their songs are specially prepared on the topic to save the earth from global warming. Jeri Meri - team will begin singing at 5:25pm and go on till 6:20pm when the Nirantari singing marathon will be breaking the current record of 36 hours set by Ubra Brazil. Mr.Concessao said that"We are glad to be part of Nirantari and very excited as we will be singing at the record breaking hour".

"I want my children to remember this historic event throughout their life. Even if I will not be here after few years, I will be satisfied of having my name entered on the pages of Guinness book of world records, " says 79 years old Harry D'Souza of the team . "I am sure our children will be happy that we have been part of the record breaking attempt" said Jessy D'Silva.

Ivan Mascarenhas, the Music Director of the Bejai group says "we are very happy that we have received this honour of being a part this event. Looking at the atmosphere here we are fully charged up to give our best."

Jeri -Meri Mumbai

Bejai Team

We have been practicing for the last 3 months to take part in this event and make it a successful one, he said. Theirs will be 36th Team to perform at 2:40-3:35 pm followed by Bantwal.

Festive mood at Kalaangann

While the mood inside the Kalangann where the record breaking event is progressing is upbeat, outside the crowd is trying to break another record. Being a Sunday everybody who is anybody in Mangalore is going to Shaktingar to be a part of the record breaking event. There were many youth who wanted to gate crash into the event and offer their vocal chords and sing in the event. According to organisers it was impossible at this hour to accommodate any extra singers as every thing has to go according to the programme and slightest deviation things might go wrong.

On the other hand all roads leading to the Kalangann has been chocked with vehicular traffic. Police have made special arrangements for parking and have cordoned of several roads leading to Kalangann for heavy vehicles. Extra traffic police have been placed near entry to Shakti nagar at Cordel as well as Bikarnakatte.

With the summer heat just beginning children women, old folks are seen walking distances to arrive at the venue of the Niranthari. Thanks to the kind hearted organisers the visitors are treated to cool drinks and the very popular 'bonda' (tender coconut) to cool them off and quench their thirst.

Looking at the crowd movement from the city to the venue some of the enterprising bus operators of the city have diverted some of their schedules to the venue carrying people. The drivers were seen pleading with the traffic police at the Shaktinagar entry at Cordel.

Previous  updates

Nirantari: The Musical Baton passes on...

Nirantari: Guinness Record in the making

Konkani Nirantari history in the making

Konkani Nirantari begins its sojourn...

'I would love to return to Mangalore someday' says Keith Pullin

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