‘Vovlek Ani Voje’: Mandd Sobhann Unveils Invitation for First World Konkani Singing Marathon at Curtain Raiser
Mangaluru: The curtain-raiser for Mandd Sobhann’s ambitious First World Konkani Singing Marathon – ‘Po’ylo Vishv Konknni So’ngeet Mo’hame’ll: Vovlek Ani Voje’- was held at the Mangalore Club, Morgan’s Gate, on August 18, setting the stage for a landmark celebration of Konkani music, language and culture.
The 12-day global singing marathon, dedicated to the memory of renowned Konkani stalwart the late Eric Ozario, is scheduled to be held from November 3 to 15, 2026, at Town Hall, Mangaluru. The event will feature 12 days, 12 hours and 12 minutes of uninterrupted Konkani singing, bringing together singers and teams from across India and abroad.
The programme commenced with a lively musical presentation by the Sumeel Team, setting an appropriate tone for an event centred on the power and beauty of Konkani music.
Arun Raj Rodrigues presented a brief history of Mandd Sobhann and highlighted its four decades of dedicated service to Konkani language, literature, music and culture. A PowerPoint presentation showcased some of the organisation’s major achievements and landmark programmes over the past 40 years, including its earlier Guinness World Record for a 40-hour singing marathon.
Welcoming the gathering, Roy Castelino, Chairman of the Finance Committee, said the curtain-raiser marked the formal unveiling of the invitation to the First World Konkani Singing Marathon.
“This is a curtain-raiser for the First World Konkani Singing Marathon. Today, we are here to unveil the invitation to this unique event, which will be held from November 3 to 15. It will be dedicated to the Konkani stalwart, the late Eric Ozario. This is a different kind of event, with 12 days, 12 hours and 12 minutes of singing,” he said.
He praised Mandd Sobhann President Louis Pinto for constantly coming up with innovative ideas and turning them into reality.
“Organising a Guinness World Record event is not an easy task. But when it succeeds, it may appear easy. Mandd Sobhann has taken up many challenging initiatives over the years and has succeeded through dedication, teamwork and determination,” Castelino added.
Addressing the gathering, Mandd Sobhann President Louis Pinto reflected on the organisation’s 40-year journey and the contribution of its members and volunteers. “If Mandd Sobhann has succeeded over the past 40 years, it is because of the hard work, dedication and efforts of many people. While we were planning our 40th anniversary celebrations, our Gurkar, Eric Ozario, passed away. Before his passing, he had already been thinking about the welfare and future of the Konkani community,” Pinto said.
He explained that the idea behind the World Konkani Singing Marathon was to bring Konkani-speaking people from around the world together through music. “We believe that music is a powerful medium to bring people together and to take the Konkani language to greater heights. This marathon is an effort to unite Konkani lovers across the world and create a memorable milestone in the history of our language,” he said.
Pinto revealed that 300 singing teams have confirmed their participation in the marathon. Around 100 teams are from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, while the remaining teams represent Uttara Kannada, Goa, Bengaluru, Mysuru, Pune, Muscat, Qatar and Australia.
The organisers have also undertaken an extensive practice campaign. Pinto said that around one lakh practice sessions have already been recorded, with attendance logs maintained by the organisers. Rehearsals are continuing across participating teams as preparations intensify for the mega event.
Pinto invited Konkani lovers from across the world to participate in and support the marathon. He also extended a special invitation to Fr Paustine Lobo, Director of Father Muller’s, in a traditional manner.
As part of the invitation ceremony, Pinto presented betel leaves and water in a brass pot to Fr Faustine Lobo, symbolically inviting him to the First World Konkani Singing Marathon. Fr Faustine Lobo subsequently unveiled the official invitation to the First World Konkani Singing Marathon.
Addressing the gathering, he congratulated Mandd Sobhann on completing 40 years of dedicated service to the Konkani community and appreciated its efforts to connect younger generations with the language. “Mandd Sobhann is striving to reach Generation Z and Generation Alpha, and this is something we need today. Many children hesitate to speak Konkani, as parents themselves often encourage them to communicate only in English because they want their children to become fluent in the language,” he observed.
He emphasised that learning English and other languages should not come at the cost of one’s mother tongue. “If children learn many languages, it will benefit them. We should not hesitate to speak our mother tongue. We should be proud of Konkani and pass it on to the next generation,” he said.
Praising Mandd Sobhann’s innovative approach, Fr Faustine said the organisation had established itself as a trendsetter by presenting programmes in creative and distinctive ways. “All their programmes are unique. They think differently. If we conduct the same kind of programmes continuously, people may lose interest. Mandd Sobhann has once again invited us to participate in a unique initiative—the First World Konkani Singing Marathon,” he said.
Explaining the significance of the title ‘Vovlek Ani Voje’, Fr Faustine noted that Voje means a burden or responsibility and urged the Konkani community to share that responsibility by supporting the organisers.
“Voje means burden, and we need to support the organisers to make this event successful. I request all of you to join hands with Mandd Sobhann and contribute to making this historic event a grand success,” he appealed.
The event is envisioned not merely as a singing marathon but as a global celebration of Konkani identity, language, music and cultural heritage. With hundreds of teams preparing across different regions and countries, the organisers hope to create a platform where Konkani speakers and music lovers can come together beyond geographical boundaries.
The official jingle of the First World Konkani Singing Marathon was played during the curtain-raiser, adding further excitement to the occasion. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Konkani Sahitya Academy President Stany Alvares. Arun Raj Rodrigues compered the programme.
With preparations already underway and singers actively rehearsing, ‘Vovlek Ani Voje’ promises to be a significant milestone in the 40-year journey of Mandd Sobhann and a powerful celebration of the enduring spirit of the Konkani language.
