Rons Bantwal

Mumbai, Sept 14: Monthi fest was celebrated at St Louis Church, Dahisar on September 8, symbolizing a precise blend of solemnity, devotion, unity, joy and merriment. All families of the parish got together to celebrate the feast.

The celebration commenced in the morning with the blessing of the new harvest followed by a procession led by young children to St Louis Church singing the traditional hymn ‘Sakadd sangata mellyam’. The holy mass was celebrated by guest priest Fr John Pinto and parish priest Fr Ronald Fernandes as the co-celebrant for the festal mass. 

The mass was followed by a cultural programme wherein parishioners of all age groups got together and actively participated in a variety of skits, dances and songs. There were around 320 devotees present for the feast who cherished every moment of the celebration as this event reminded everyone of their good old days in Mangaluru.

Every year, ‘Monthi Saibinnichem Fest’ is organised by the members of the Konkani association of St Louis Church, Dahisar. As always, it was held in a very grand and traditional way, with the support of all the members and their families. At the end of the cultural programme, Fr John Pinto initiated the grace and blessed the scrumptious food (Novem Jevonn) which was served on banana leaf ‘sirothi’, consisting of various vegetable dishes. This beautiful celebration concluded by singing ‘laudate’.