Zaito Tempu Zalo - Mando
“Let’s keep the Goan tradition and culture alive, worldwide”
Zaito Tempu Zalo[बदल]
A long time has passed
Type: Mando
Source: Pereira, José/ Martins, Michael. Song of Goa.
Lyrics and Music: Sebastião Costa Fernandes (1875-1937) of Curthori
Date: Composed between 1888 and 1913
Musical form: Ternary
Literary form: Monologue
Translated by José Pereira
Zaito tempu zalo,
A long time has passed,
Tuzo môgu rigleary maka.
Since your love entered me.
To sonsum' nuzo moga,
I cannot bear it, my beloved,
Rumbrhech' zorits' banhu ge-in dista.
I feel bathing in the Rumborhdem fountain.
Ai ai rabum' nuzo,
Oh, I cannot, I cannot wait.
Maka ugddas yeta tuzo.
The thought of you comes to me.
Ontoskornanch' muja moga,
Love of my inner being,
Kallizacha muja gondda.
And bud of my heart.
Anjach'm sarkem tujem mannyka,
Your angel face, my jewel,
Grava' zaloly'm y asô muja kallyza'.
Is engraved on my heart.
Ai ai rorhtam y aum-um.
Oh, I cry.
Mogats' gutt sangum' zainam munnum.
I cannot tell you love's secret.
Mujem kalliz tujery munnum,
(The news) That my heart is on you alone,
Porgottola sogloch ganv-um.
Has spread through the whole village.
At'm mak' sandduch' zalleary rê tum,
If you should now abandon me,
Jivu muzo ditol'm tuka y aum-um.
I will give up my life for you.
Mogats' y abras mannyka,
I wait, my precious (lit. gem),
Diucha' rabot'm y aum-um tuka.
To give you love's embrace.
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.