NINAAD 2K26: 6,500 Children Gather at Vamanjoor, Mangaluru

NINAAD 2K26: 6,500 Children Gather at Vamanjoor for the Diocese of Mangalore's Largest-Ever Children's Convention

On Sunday, 8 November 2026, the Diocese of Mangalore hosted its largest-ever children's convention at Vamanjoor: 6,500 children of Classes 5 to 10 from 125 parishes, a procession, a children's Mass with a 100-voice choir, and a drone-recorded human formation of a Eucharistic Host, Chalice and Cross.

MangaloreDiary View profile → 10 hr ago Updated 9 November 2026 7 views 4 min read

6,500 children. 125 parishes. One day at Vamanjoor.

On Sunday, 8 November, the open turf at St Joseph Engineering College (SJEC) in Vamanjoor, Mangaluru, filled with thousands of children in Classes 5 to 10. On a signal, 6,500 of them took their places to form a single picture seen from above: a Eucharistic Host, a Chalice and a Cross.

A drone recorded the formation. It was the high point of NINAAD 2K26, the Diocese of Mangalore's largest-ever children's convention.

6,500 children, 125 parishes, one picture from the sky.

What NINAAD is

NINAAD, with the full title NINAAD – Burgyalem Festh 2K26, was planned as a festival of children and a milestone of the diocese's Year of Children 2026. Its motto was "Our Children, Fruits of God's Kingdom."

Ten diocesan commissions organised the convention together, among them Family Life, Basic Ecclesial Communities, Youth, Education, Bible, Catechetics, Missionary Childhood, Social Communication, Vocation and Formation, and Proclamation and Evangelisation. Fr Alwyn Richard D'Souza was its convenor.

Before the event, the diocese expected more than 6,000 children. The final number was 6,500.

NINAAD 2K26 in numbers, as reported by the organisers.

Measure	Figure	Note
Children present	6,500	Classes 5 to 10; expected beforehand: more than 6,000
Parishes represented	125	Across the Diocese of Mangalore
Parish animators and volunteers	About 1,000	Including Vamanjoor parish, ICYM and YCS
Children's choir	100 voices	For the Thanksgiving Eucharistic Celebration
Deaneries presenting tableaux	12	"History of Salvation", Creation to Pentecost
Children dressed as patron saints	125	One for each parish, in the procession
Instagram reel contest prize pool	Rs 17,500	Run before the event on the theme song

The day, step by step

The convention ran from morning to late afternoon at the SJEC campus.

How the day was planned and what was reported

Time (as announced)	Programme	What was reported
8.30 am	Registration and breakfast at the Vamanjoor church hall	Children arrived from across the diocese
9.30 am	Mega procession to the SJEC venue	125 children dressed as the patron saints of their parishes; tableaux from the 12 deaneries
11.40 am	Thanksgiving Eucharistic Celebration	A children's Mass celebrated by the Bishop, with a 100-voice children's choir and a prayer dance composed by Fr Abel Lobo
Afternoon	Human formation on the SJEC turf	6,500 children formed a Host, Chalice and Cross, recorded by drone
Afternoon	Faith-sharing session and child-protection session	Testimonies from five speakers; a session on dignity and safety
Later in the day	Official NINAAD theme song	Composed by Fr Ronald D'Souza, sung by children, presented as a musical animation by ICYM youth
4 pm	Conclusion	Vote of thanks by the convenor

The Bishop of Mangalore, Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, presided. Msgr Maxim Noronha (Vicar General), Dr Victor George Dsouza (Chancellor), Fr Lawrence Mascarenhas (parish priest of Vamanjoor) and many priests and religious joined the Mass.

The Bishop's message

The Bishop told the children, "You are the greatest treasure of our diocese." He asked them to stay rooted in Christ and to draw their strength from the Eucharist as they grow. He also said the protection of children is the responsibility of everyone.

"Children Safety is Our Priority"

The convention carried a pledge on child safety. Fr Francis Assisi Almeida, Karnataka Regional Secretary of the Education Commission, led an awareness session on child protection and human dignity. He gave the children, and about 1,000 parish animators and volunteers, practical legal guidance on recognising, preventing and responding to harassment.

Medical teams and safety personnel supported the day.

Faith, family and resilience

The faith-sharing session had the theme "Growing in Family, Faith, Responsibility, and Resilience." The panel included Michael D'Souza, a philanthropist from Puttur who lives in Mangaluru and Dubai. He spoke of how early hardship pushed him to grow, and advised the children to remember their parents, their mother tongue and their motherland.

Two couples, both parents of five, spoke about guiding children towards responsibility and giving them quality family time. A PUC student from Bendur and a national youth leader of YCS/YSM India from Shirva also gave testimonies on family, faith and church involvement.

Remember your parents, your mother tongue and your motherland.

Is it a record?

The diocese called it its largest-ever children's convention, and its own report described the formation as record-breaking. The record is the diocese's own: no outside body, such as a national or world records organisation, has been named as verifying it.

Where to watch

The full programme was broadcast live and remains available on the Diocese of Mangalore's official YouTube channel.

Frequently asked questions

What is NINAAD 2K26?

NINAAD – Burgyalem Festh 2K26 is a children's convention organised by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mangalore as a milestone of its Year of Children 2026. It was held on Sunday, 8 November 2026.

Where was it held?

It was held at the St Joseph Engineering College (SJEC) campus in Vamanjoor, Mangaluru. Registration and breakfast were at the Vamanjoor church hall.

How many children took part?

The organisers report 6,500 children of Classes 5 to 10 from 125 parishes across the diocese. Before the event, they had expected more than 6,000.

What was the human formation?

The children gathered on the SJEC open turf and formed the shape of a Eucharistic Host, a Chalice and a Cross. A drone recorded it from above.

Is it a world record?

No outside records body has been named. The Diocese of Mangalore calls NINAAD 2K26 its largest-ever children's convention, and its own report describes the formation as record-breaking.

Who organised and who presided?

The Diocesan Pastoral Commissions organised it, with Fr Alwyn Richard D'Souza as convenor. Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore, presided.

What happened during the day?

The day began with registration, then a procession of children dressed as patron saints with tableaux from 12 deaneries. It continued with a children's Mass with a 100-voice choir, the human formation, a faith-sharing session, a child-protection session and the official theme song.

Was there a child-safety programme?

Yes. The convention's pledge was "Children Safety is Our Priority," and Fr Francis Assisi Almeida led a session on child protection and human dignity for the children and about 1,000 parish animators and volunteers.

Where can I watch NINAAD 2K26?

The full programme was broadcast live on the Diocese of Mangalore's official YouTube channel, where it remains available.