By Uday Rodrigues
Daijiworld Media Network – Jeddah (VA)

Jeddah, Sep 29:  The traditional harvest festival popularly known as ‘Monti Festh’ by all Mangalorean people was celebrated with great pomp and gaiety here recently.

Over 30 odd Mangalorean and Goans formed the close knit group that took part in the event. Celebrations began after tea, with a round of cricket match. The drinks break saw lovely green tender coconuts being served, with players and spectators, sipping away the deliciously refreshing tender coconut water.

Vincent Shallet D’Souza, led all in the celebrations, singing a harvest song from an old Konkani movie ‘Bhogsane’. The victims of the recent IA 812 crash were dearly remembered. Thereafter as a symbolic gesture, a few rice grains of this year’s harvest were crushed and mixed with milk and served to everyone. This unique method of consuming grain from the new harvest is a long standing tradition in the Mangalorean community, inherent to its farming roots.

The women had prepared several delicious traditional vegetarian dishes, the specialty being ‘Pautaurode’ (rice dumplings). Dinner was served on traditional plantain leaves. ‘Vorn’ (a sweet delicacy made of cane sugar, coconut milk and lentil) was served for dessert.

Various games were organized after the dinner which added onto the day’s fun.