Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Aug 26: The Catholic Sabha Mangaluru and Udupi units have urged Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to declare September 8 a public holiday in the coastal districts to enable Catholic Christian families to celebrate the traditional nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and 'Thene Habba'.

A delegation led by MLC Ivan D’Souza met the chief minister and submitted a memorandum seeking the holiday. The delegation comprised Catholic Sabha Mangaluru Pradesh president Santosh D’Souza, the unit’s political convener and former president Stany Lobo, Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh president Melwyn Aranha, and Udupi Zone president Kiran Lewis.

September 8 marks the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is traditionally observed by Catholic Christians in the coastal region and across Karnataka as a special family feast. The day is also celebrated as ‘Thene Habba’, or the harvest feast, particularly in the coastal districts.

As part of the celebrations, farmers offer their newly harvested produce to God, while special religious services are held in churches. Families then come together for a communal meal and celebrations, making the occasion an important religious and family tradition.

In their memorandum, the delegation requested that Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts be granted a public holiday on September 8 so that Christian communities can participate in the Mary’s Nativity/Thene Habba celebrations without the constraints of work or other official commitments.

According to Catholic Sabha office-bearers, Chief Minister D K Shivakumar received the memorandum and expressed his consent to declaring September 8 a public holiday in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.

The chief minister also assured the delegation that an official order would be issued shortly in this regard, the Catholic Sabha representatives said.