Mangaluru, Mandd Sobhann: The Premier Konkani Cultural Organization established in 1986, is celebrating its Ruby Jubilee (40th anniversary). To mark this milestone, the First World Konkani Music Mega Convention has been organized at the Town Hall in Mangaluru from November 3 to 15, 2026. The convention aims to unite Konkani communities from across the globe, orchestrate a spectacular musical showcase, elevate the Konkani flag to the global pinnacle, and celebrate the rich heritage of Konkani music while instilling immense cultural pride. This mega convention, featuring various programs, is dedicated to the memory of the late Mandd Sobhann Gurkar, Eric Ozario, who made monumental contributions to Konkani music.
The convention will be officially inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant, on November 3, 2026, at 5:00 AM at the Town Hall. The Bishop of Mangalore, Rev. Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha, will deliver the benediction, and the F.W.K.M.M.C. Reception Committee President, Dr. Ronald Colaco, will preside over the ceremony.
GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS Attempt: Starting at 6:00 AM on November 3, 2026, an attempt will be made to set a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS TITLE ATTEMPT FOR LONGEST SINGING MARATHON (MULTIPLE SINGERS), lasting 12 days, 12 hours, and 12 minutes (300 Hours and 12 Minutes Non-Stop). Titled “Konko’nni Niro’nto’ri – So’msar So’raso’ri” (Eternal Konkani – Unto the World’s End), this attempt will feature participants from India, Australia, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar. It will unite people from Christian, Hindu, and Muslim faiths, representing various Konkani communities such as Christians, G.S.B., Kudal Deshastha, Kharvi, Kudumi, Siddi, Nawayathi, and Syrian Christians, along with other linguistic groups. Over 6789 Singers will perform 4500+ Konkani Songs across various dialects, created by 250+ Composers. A total of 300 Teams will sing for one hour each without any singer or song being repeated. ‘Sangeeth Guru’ Joel Pereira is the Chief Music Director for this record attempt. Registration has been completed with the Guinness office in London, and an official senior adjudicator has been appointed to oversee the attempt.
Symposium: To add Academic depth and an International dimension to the celebration, 12 seminars have been organized
- Konkani Devotional Music – Goa (Fr. Onesis Dcruz)
- Konkani Devotional Music – Mangaluru and Beyond (Fr. Jayaprakash Dsouza)
- Konkani Folk Music – Goa (Dr. Cosmo Fernandes)
- Konkani Folk Music – Mangaluru and Beyond (Dr. Preethi Keerthi Dsouza)
- Music for Health (Ankush Nayak)
- International Music (Dr. Paolo Pacciolla)
- Baila Music (Alwyn Fernandes)
- Musicians and their Compositions (Neeta Rebello)
- Theatre and Cinema Music (Cajetan Dias)
- Impact of Mandd Sobhann Music (Rev. Dr. Alwyn Serrao)
- Intellectual Property Rights (Dr. Sayonara Telles)
- Artificial Intelligence and Music (Rev. Dr. Victor Ferrao)
Honors: Twelve senior musicians who have made significant contributions to Konkani music will be honored with the ‘World Konkani Musical Excellence Award’. Five of these awards will be conferred posthumously. The awardees include the late Chris Perry (Goa), Lawrence Saldanha (Mumbai), Fr. Lino De Sa (Goa), the late Vasanthi R Nayak (Mangaluru), the late Alfred Rose (Goa), Shridhar Kharvi (Bhatkal), Melwyn Peris (Mangaluru), Nemiraja Gowda (Kompadavu-Dakshina Kannada), the late Jerome Dsouza (Mumbai), Mamdu Ibrahim (Shiroor), the late Ullas Buyão (Goa), and Juliana Siddi (Haliyal). They will be felicitated by prominent figures from the political and cultural spheres.
Ful Fulota: With the intention of actively engaging children aged 10-16 in the convention, a special Konkani Niro’nto’ri-style musical evening titled ‘Ful Fulota’ (The Flower is Blooming) will be held on November 13 at the Rajaji Park Amphitheatre, located opposite the Town Hall.
Exhibition: An exhibition showcasing the history of Konkani music, as well as the life, traditions, and culture of the Konkani people, will be set up on the Town Hall premises.
Hall of Fame: A dedicated section will feature both senior and contemporary musicians who have brought glory to Konkani music.
Konkani Cuisine: Food stalls selling diverse delicacies from various Konkani communities will be set up.
- Valedictory: GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS TITLE ATTEMPT FOR LONGEST SINGING MARATHON (MULTIPLE SINGERS) will conclude precisely at 6:12 PM on November 15, followed by the formal stage program. The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, D.K. Shivakumar, will grace the valedictory ceremony.
Preparations for the Mega Event: The public announcement of this record attempt was made on August 31, 2025, during the funeral of Mandd Sobhann Gurkar Eric Ozario, and extensive preparations have been in full swing ever since. Complete arrangements have been made to ensure the smooth conduct of the entire program, including curating thousands of songs, documenting lyrics, forming 300 performing teams, distributing tracks, creating minus tracks (karaoke) for finalized songs, and appointing 40 assistant music co-ordinators to supervise rehearsals. Additionally, arrangements have been secured for practice attendance logs, participant declaration forms, accommodation, travel, catering, and comprehensive volunteer training.
The estimated budget for this historic event is approximately Rs.3 Crore. This expenditure will serve as an investment to elevate Konkani music and lay a strong foundation for the future of Konkani. We strongly believe that the government and the public will join hands to make this initiative a resounding success.
We cordially invite all our friends from the media to attend daily, cover the event, and disseminate information through your respective platforms to encourage people from all walks of life to participate in large numbers and help make this mega convention a grand success.
Louis J. Pinto (President, Mandd Sobhann), Roy Castelino (Chairman, Finance Committee, F.W.K.M.M.C.), Joel Pereira (Chief Music Director, F.W.K.M.M.C.), Joachim Stany Alvares (Coordinator, Mandd Sobhann), Ronald Crasta (Secretary, Mandd Sobhann), Michael Jude Gracias (Goa Coordinator, F.W.K.M.M.C.) were present in the Press Conference.