The historic World Konkani Music Mega Convention, organised by Mandd Sobhann, achieved a landmark milestone on Saturday, 7 November, by completing 110 consecutive hours of non-stop singing at the Town Hall in Mangaluru.
The ambitious attempt is aimed at the Guinness World Records title for the Longest Singing Marathon (Multiple Singers). Organisers shared that one major portion of the attempt has been completed with 110 teams, while another 190 teams are scheduled to perform in the coming days to complete the record.
Earlier in the morning, as the singing marathon completed its 100th hour, organisers, performers and Konkani enthusiasts gathered at the Town Hall and celebrated the achievement with fireworks. The celebration marked a moment of pride for a gathering that has kept the singing going without a break.
A fifth day full of variety
The fifth day of the marathon was filled with remarkable variety and energy from the participating troupes. Adding a vibrant cross-cultural spirit to the event, several non-Konkani teams also joined the marathon, performing Konkani songs to wide acclaim.
Teams from across the Konkani world took part, including groups from Mangaluru, Udupi, Goa, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Australia. The list included Izo'yche Ko'lle of Bejai, the Fr Walter Albuquerque SJ Memorial Choir, Rang Tarang of Moodbidri and Mando Mogi of Margao, among many others.
The mix of choirs, parish groups, college teams and community troupes gave each day a different character. Senior citizens from Derebail, students of St Aloysius College and sisters of the Bethany congregation were among those who sang through the marathon hours.
A twelve-day journey to the finale
The mega cultural event is scheduled to run for a total of 12 days, 12 hours and 12 minutes, culminating in a grand finale on 15 November at 5 pm.
The scale of the attempt is what makes it stand out. Three hundred teams are expected to take part over the 12 days of the event, in what is set to be the longest singing marathon in the record books.
Each team takes its turn on stage at the Town Hall, keeping the music unbroken as one group hands over to the next.
Konkani music on a world stage
The convention has turned Mangaluru's Town Hall into a centre for Konkani culture for nearly two weeks, drawing crowds of music lovers and well-wishers who turned up to support the performers.
For Mandd Sobhann, the marathon is a celebration of Konkani identity as much as a record attempt. The event brings together singers from different parts of the Konkani-speaking world on one platform, in a rare display of the language's range and depth.
With 110 hours complete and the finale still eight days away, the singers now head into the second half of the marathon, determined to complete the record and create a milestone for the Konkani community worldwide.
