By Thomas Scaria
Mangaluru, November 13, 2026: The Catholic Community in Mangaluru is in a jubilant mood as they are nearing the World Guinness Records for the longest singing Marathon for 12 days.
The event started on November 3 has completed nearly 250 hours of non-stop singing so far, which will culminate on November 15.
The first World Konkani Music mega convention, hosted by the Mandd Sobhann, a Konkani Cultural Foundation was opened by the Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, and Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha of Mangalore, with uninterrupted performances by singing troupes from across Karnataka, Goa and Kerala.
The non stop singing by various groups including priests and nuns, church choirs, and secular music groups from Konkani speaking community aim at World Guinness records as they complete more 300 hours of singing, first of its kind in India.
Louis J Pinto, the president of Mandd Sobhann, a cultural organization of the Konakani speaking community, mostly Catholics told Matters India that the event showcase group singing by 300 groups with over 6,700 singers performing 4,500 songs in 12 days, 12 hours and 12 minutes.
The mega convention commemorates the institution’s 40th anniversary and is dedicated to the cherished memory of its late founder Eric Ozario. The event is particularly praised for promoting communal harmony and unity with its wide participation by various communities including Hindus and Muslims.
Out of the 300 registered troupes, 250 teams have already completed their performances. With just three days remaining, the event is poised to set a new Guinness World Record in the ‘marathon singing – multiple singers’ category.
The event also includes international workshops, symposiums and felicitation programs in parallel stages on music, devotional songs, folk arts and cultural heritage. Traditional food stalls and antique galleries also draw large crowds.
Continuing non-stop without repeating a single song or singer, the historic marathon is rapidly approaching a new world record, elevating the Konkani language and culture, mostly related to the Konkani Catholic Community around the globe.