Mangalore: Devotion, Prayers, Mark Monthi Fest Celebrations
Pics by Dayanand Kukkaje & Ganesh Perla
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
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Mangalore, Sep 8: September 8 happens to be the birth anniversary of Holy Mary, or ‘Monti’ in local parlance. The occasion, the ‘Feast of Immaculate Conception’ celebrated elsewhere in the world on the occasion of the Nativity of Mary, is celebrated as ‘Monti Fest’ by the Konkani-speaking Christian populace present predominantly in Coastal Karnataka.
This is the biggest festival for parishes across Karnataka coast, particularly the twin-districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. The people use this occasion to salute the kindness of the divine powers and earn their kindness. This is also the festival in which they thankfully acknowledge the kindness of Mother Nature and mother earth for the bounteous crops.
(Valencia Church, Mangalore)
(Bendore Church, Mangalore)
(Milagres Church, Mangalore)
On September 8, the Catholics consume only vegetarian meal, known as ‘Nove Jevan (New Meal)’. Processions are held, normally by taking a statue of Baby Mary along. People carry baskets of flowers and ears of paddy in their hands while walking in the processions, which start from the church, pass through decorated streets, and reach the church premises again. The children shower flowers on Mother Mary’s statue at the church. The newly harvested rice stalks and sugarcanes, duly blessed by the priests, are then taken home by the people. The grains are crushed at home, added to milk, and served to the family members.
Monti Fest is gaining popularity all over the globe these days, as it is celebrated in every town where the population of Konkani-speaking people is sizeable. Singing of hymns, ‘Sakkad Sangatha Melyam’ and ‘Moriyek Hogolsyam’ has been an inherent part of Monti Fest. The people feel blessed and blissful by paying obeisance to Mother Mary on her birth anniversary.
One of the earliest Monti Fests was celebrated at Milagres Church in the city in 1906. Even the busiest of people take time off to be a part of the procession, to hail Monti’s kindness and get divine blessings, on ‘Monti Fest’.
Monthi Fest Celebrations Around the World
Oman:
Chikmagalur:
Mumbai:
Udupi:
- St Theresa of Child Jesus Church, Mukamar
- Holy Cross Church, Pamboor
- St Paul Chapel, Neelavara
- Stella Maris Church, Kalmady
- Our Lady of Fatima Church, Pernal
- Sacred Heart of Jesus, Kolalgiri
- Infant Jesus Shrine, Pilar/Shirva
- St Francis Xavier Church, Muderangady
- St Lawrence Church, Moodubelle
- St John the Evangelist Church, Pangala, Shankarapura
- Milagres Church, Kallianpur
- Our Lady of Health Church, Shirva
- St Joseph's Church, Belman
- Sacred Heart of Jesus, Ajekar
- Holy Family Church, Brahmavar
- St Francis of Assisi Church, Tallur, Kundapur
- Christ the King Church, Karkala
- Mother of Sorrows Church
Mangalore:
- Mother of God Church, Mogarnad
- Immaculate Conception Church, Urwa
- St Dominic Church, Ashoknagar
- Blessed Teresa of Kolkata Church, Paldane
- St John the Baptist Church, Kokkada
- Our Lady of Pompei Church, Gurpur-Kaikamba
- St John the Baptist Church, Permude
- St Sebastian Church, Permannur
- Holy Cross Church, Cordel, Kulshekar
- Mary Mother of God Church, Puttur
- St Antony Church, Bannur
- Our Lady Virgin of the Poor Church, Uppinangady
- Holy Family Church, Bantwal
- Infant Mary Church, Katipalla
- Corpus Christi Church, Moodbidri Town
- Infant Jesus Church, Modankap
- St Peter Claver Church, Arva, Beltangady
- St Joseph the Worker Church, Vamanjoor, Mangalore
- St Rita's Church, Cascia, Mangalore
- St Francis Xavier Church, Ferar, Mangalore
- St Joseph's Church, Jeppu, Mangalore
- Nithyadar Church, Salethur, Bantwal
- Mother of God Church, Shaktinagar
- St Lawrence Church, Bondel
- St Thomas the Apostle Church, Nirkan, Bantwal
- Infant Jesus Shrine, Bikkarnakatte, Kulshekar
- Our Lady of Loretto Church, Bantwal
- St Anne's Friary, Bejai
- Our Lady of Miracles, Milagres
- St Vincent Ferrer Church, Valencia
- St Sebastian Church, Bendore
- Monthi Fest Celebrations in Milagres Parish Begin with Gaiety
Karwar:
Kasargod:
Canada:
United Kingdom:
United States of America: