Origins of the Goan mando
Folk songs in Konkani were common among the Goan people long before the Portuguese came on the scene. But the mando came into existence during the colonial rule and shows strong Portuguese influences both in its song and dance form.
The origins of the Konkani mando can be traced back to the Goan aristocracy of Salcette. You will notice that the dialect of the old classical mandos is the saxtti Konkani of Salcette bamons.
Having integrated many western customs into their native traditions and way of life, Goan Catholics were already familiar with western dances. But they were keen to have a dance they could call their own. And thus was born the Goan mando somewhere around 1850 or so. In the first few decades it was kept alive by the upper caste families of villages in Salcette, but those of Loutolim, Curtorim, Raia, Benaulim, Chandor, and Verna in particular. Then over the years it became popular with other Goan Catholics and now there can be no celebration among Goans inside or outside Goa without including a lusty rendering of popular mandos.
Lyrics of Goan mandos
The lyrics of most Goan mandos express sadness, the grief of a jilted lover, pining for a lost love, or the yearning for union. Speaking of lyrics, in response to several emails asking for the lyrics of popular mandos, here are the lyrics of two with “adeus” as their theme.
The first mando – Adeus korcho vellu paolo – for which I had incorporated a video clip in my last post, was one of my Mum’s favourites. The second – Uloilelim utram – is sung by the legendary Lorna and is followed by the video clip.
Enjoy!
1. Adeus korcho vellu paolo
Adeus korcho vellu paolo, Ai mhojem kaliz rê fapsota.
Dispediru korchea vellar, Ho sonvsar naka-so disota.
Refrain: Vochu voch rê roddumnaka, Devu feliz kortolo tuka.
Forsan adeus kortam tuka, Fugar zaun dukham rê golloitam.
Zaite martir hanv bhogitam, Ankvarponn tukach rê bhettoitam.
2. Uloilelim utram
Uloilelim utram monantuch uron,
Udkache porim to mog mozo gelo vavon.
Tetir zalim tedna, sonvsar ossoch soron,
Tuzo mog kallzant mojea astolo bhoron.
Kainch uloinastanam tum koddsorloi,
Adeus passun korunk tum vissorloi.
Nirmoll kallzak mojea tumvem toplei kantte,
Kiteak mhunnon Deva amche kele vantte.
Poilo mog khoro tor, tum danvon ye,
Soglem bogxitelim, yeun vengen ghe.
Porva nam visorlear, oshinch dukam golloun,
Morom passun tuji, rautelim vatt polloun.
The version sung by legendary singer Lorna Cordeiro
And here’s the male version sung by Ravi Coutinho of Goa’s ‘Pure Magic’ Band. (Beautiful snap shots of Goa too!)
