Mangaluru: Mandd Sobhann, regarded as the world’s premier Konkani cultural organisation, has announced preparations for a new Guinness World Record attempt as it marks its 40th year of service to language, art and culture.
Founded in 1986 with the mission of strengthening Konkani identity through indigenous cultural expression, Mandd Sobhann has staged more than 2,200 performances across 35 major productions. Over the decades, it has nurtured linguistic pride among Konkani-speaking communities worldwide and earned recognition as a guardian of Konkani culture.
Aiming for a 300-hour singing marathon
In 2008, Mandd Sobhann entered the Guinness Book of World Records for organising the longest singing marathon by multiple singers, featuring 1,711 singers performing 645 songs over 40 hours.
Now, the organisation is preparing for a far more ambitious feat — a 12-day, 12-hour and 12-minute singing marathon, totalling 300 hours and 12 minutes. The record attempt is scheduled to take place at the proposed First World Konkani Music Mega Convention from November 3 to November 15, 2026, in Mangaluru.
The event is expected to involve over 5,400 singers performing 5,400 Konkani songs. The record attempt will be dedicated to the memory of the late Eric Ozario, whose lifelong contributions significantly enriched the Konkani language and music tradition.
Convention to honour music and scholarship
Beyond the record attempt, the convention will feature scholarly presentations by experts in music, tracing the evolution of Konkani music and its diverse traditions. Eminent achievers who have made notable contributions to Konkani music will also be honoured during the event.
Structure of the record attempt
During the marathon, teams of 18 singers aged 16 and above will perform approximately 16 to 18 songs within an hour. A total of 300 teams will sing consecutively, ensuring uninterrupted music for the entire 300-hour duration.
Participation is open to singers of any linguistic background, provided that all songs performed are exclusively in Konkani. Individuals representing all Konkani dialects — Hindu, Muslim and Christian — from across India and abroad are invited to take part.
Registered teams will receive training and detailed guidelines in the coming months.
Registration details
Teams interested in participating must select a team name and send it via WhatsApp, along with the team leader’s name and contact number, to 8105 22 6626 by February 28.
Further information is available on the official website: www.manddsobhann.org
