Goan conducts Mando workshop

Mangaluru: A Goan writer and Tiatr personality, who conducted an extensive workshop for the students of St Aloysius College to introduce Mando, which comprises poetry, lyrics, music and dance, also composed a ‘Mando’ performance on the college.
“In order to introduce one of the flavours of Goa–Mando—to its campus, the college had invited Michael Gracias, who trained the students for 15 days, last month. Not only did he train them in well-known Mando songs, but he also wrote and composed a Mando, taking our college as the subject. He studied the history of the college, to write the Mando,” said Flora Castelino, coordinator of the Mando training at St Aloysius College.
This workshop was sponsored by Karnataka Konkani Study Chair of Mangalore University.
She added that for the first time in Mangaluru, the campus had introduced a flavour of Goa on its campus. Castelino said that though Mando is a common musical form, it evolved during the 19th and 20th centuries in Goa. However, not many are aware of it in the coastal district.
“Therefore, we wanted to train our students in this form. So we invited Gracias, who trained students in well-known Mando songs, and the same was staged in the last week of March. A total 30 students were trained. The Mando composed on the college was staged, and it will be staged again on college days scheduled for April 28,” said Castelino, adding that the Mando on the college is a unique performance.