Mando is a song-cum-dance choreographed in a stylish way. It is nostalgically danced and sung wherever Goans are settled the world over. The title Mando is derived from a
Sanskrit word 'mandalam', which means circular movement. Mando is played in a melancholic mood uniformly.
Both men and women folk dance in a rhythmic pattern to the beat of a ghumat and the romantic strains of the violin. At first, the participants form a circle. In course of performance, the dance advances along a parallel line with a to and fro motion.
Love and romance are mainly depicted in their song. Latin and Italian music has influenced it a lot. After being subjected to a lot of modification in a sophisticated manner, Mando attained the position as a classical or art song. Political Mando is a song composed in the same manner; its theme is of a political nature.
From 1966 onwards a Mando Festival is held once in a year with a special Bernardo Award for the best presentation.
