Strum the day away

The Mahalo Ukulele Festival is back, where playing along matters as much as the performance

VINIKA VISWAMBHARAN

A promise made at home, sparked by a child’s curiosity about a festival abroad, has become one of Goa’s well-known cultural events. On March 21, the Mahalo Ukulele Festival returns to Mandrem, with a full day of music, workshops and community at the Jamboree Creek Yoga Resort.

“I told my son we couldn’t go all the way to Honolulu,” says founder Christina Fernandes. “But I also said we could have an ukulele festival in India and I would take him there.” When she searched for one, she found none. “I wanted to keep my kids motivated and their love for music going so I decided to start it myself.”

The festival began without a detailed plan, relying on instinct and support from the community. Fernandes reached out to her children’s teacher, Anirban Halder, who agreed to help immediately. Soon after, she received a message from Luv Mahtani: “How can I help? I’ll do anything, even lift boxes, as long as I can be involved.” She says, “That gave me a huge boost. For the first time, I felt this could actually work.”

Seven years on, Mahalo has resisted growing into a commercial event. “We don’t advertise much and we don’t have big sponsors,” says Fernandes. “We pick venues that match our vibe. Mahalo is relaxed and community-focused. Losing that would defeat the purpose.”

It will run from 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m., starting with an extended open mic, followed by evening performances from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Workshops will be held throughout the day, along with a small market and spaces where people can gather, talk and play music.

The open mic, she says, is the main event of Mahalo. ‘It gives everyone a chance to perform. Whether it’s a simple two-chord song or something more complicated, being on stage helps people grow. I’m an amateur and I perform every year. If I can do it, anyone can.”

This year’s programme includes some favourite acts from previous years along with new ideas. Many of these were planned together with artists who return every year. “We are lucky to have musicians like Natasha Carroll, Vaisakh Somanath and Mahtani,” says Fernandes, adding that they work together to make sure the activities are fun and suitable for all ages.

Family participation is an important part of the festival. “My daughter Aliya is leading ‘Paint the Sound’, where people paint a mural while listening to ukulele music,” she says.

Her son Keaton will conduct a workshop that turns a regular ukulele into an electric one so participants can try different sounds. Other sessions include ‘Tiny Strums’ for children, ‘Intuitive Songwriting’, ‘Uke Grooves’ and a workshop on body tuning to help musicians avoid strain.

The festival is open to everyone, regardless of age or experience. “Some come by chance, join their first workshop and perform on the same day. And we cheer them on,” she says, adding that ukulele is easy to play and brings people together. “Mahalo is not about showing off. It gives people a chance to perform and express themselves.”

First-time performers are always included. “They gain confidence from performing. My own children have improved through the festival and enjoy playing with other musicians,” she adds.

However, Fernandes says organising the festival can be challenging. “There have been times I felt overwhelmed but Mahalo takes place every year,” she adds. She wants participants to leave feeling included and part of a supportive music community.