Zaitea Tempach Amchea Moga - Mando
“Let’s keep the Goan tradition and culture alive, worldwide”
Zaitea Tempach Amchea Moga
[बदल]Our long time love
Type: Mando
Source: J.A.A. Fernandes, vulgo: André Xett (1884-1980).
Musical form: Ternary
Literary form: Monologue
Translated by António Vicente de Noronha (1895- 1982)
Zaitea tempach amchea moga,
Our love lasted long.
Kitea sandun vetai rê maca,
Why are you (male) leaving me and going away, Sentimento boglo mojea calzac,
I felt sorrow in my heart,
Codinch aum sandinam rê tuka.
Never shall I leave you.
Chusmo/ Refrain:
Anim sandun tum guelear moga,
And if you leave me and go,
Visornam rê tuka.
I shall not forget you.
Kitem cor'n soddun diumcho rê tuka,
How can I forsake you,
Mojem caliz betoilolea suca,
I have dedicated my heart to you, my happiness,
Ossolea sukachea mojea tempa,
At this my time of happiness,
Him môjim dukan betoitam tuka. (Chusmo)
I am dedicating my tears to you. (Refrain)
Soglenc calliz nuim ré mojem,
My whole heart,
Tujea mogan ré guspolem,
Was filled (confused) with your love,
Ea ogtar ecuch utor tujem,
At this moment only one word of yours (will suffice),
Amim dogaim sukan jieunchem. (Chusmo)
And both of us will live in happiness. (Refrain)
The Mando
The mando is a dance song from Goa in Konkani. Although it is popular among all the social stratas of the Konkani-speaking peoples and many of the composers have remained anonymous, it should not be classified as a folk song. It is an art song composed for particular occasions. There have been many attempts to explain the origin of the word mando. One of them refers to the mand which was traditionally an open space of about 100 sq.m. where religious ceremonies were held and folk dances were performed. The text form of the mando is based on that of the traditional Konkani song ovi, which was usually sung at weddings
Most of the the traditional mandos, which gained the term “classical”, were composed in the 19th century. The polka and the valsavina (Vienna Waltz) with its three-four rhythm seem to have found their way to Goa. The mando was originally composed and danced by the Brahmin aristocracy of Goa, mainly of Salcete, whose spacious mansions had a big hall for festive occasions. A memorable moment in the history of the family was the bridal mando. The mando reflects the tranquil and leisurely character of this aristocracy. The Goan woman in the mando reflects the ideals and virtues then ascribed to her, namely self-sacrifice, piety and motherhood.
As a dance the mando is a square type (double file), men facing the women. When the partners come face to face in the centre, they retreat to the starting point, then move forward again crossing to the opposite side. The men then flick their handkerchiefs while the women open their fans. All in all, it is a stately and leisurely dance. The melody of the mando is slow in movement, with a soft and languishing atmosphere.