Media Release

Dublin, Sep 8: Mangaloreans all around the world earnestly wait for Monthi Fest celebrations in September. This day not only marks its importance due to the birth of our most venerated Mother Mary, but also coincides with the celebration of the harvest season in southern India. Konkans Ireland, a group formed by the Konkani speaking diaspora in Ireland celebrated this year’s Monthi fest on Saturday, September 6 at the Our Lady of Good Counsel, Killiney in the southern suburbs of Dublin, Ireland.

In preparation for this feast day, several families helped hosting 9 days of the novena with assistance of Veena. Keeping in mind the religious importance of the day, the holy eucharistic celebration in Konkani language was presided by two priests of Indian origin, Fr Suresh Babu and Fr Valerian with Arvin and Kevin assisting as altar servers. The church echoed harmoniously with Konkani hymns sung by the choir comprising of Jacintha, Arathi, Meliville and Manuel under the guidance of the choir master Anil. Homegrown vegetables and fruits were served as offertory, similar to the traditions back home. Mass conculded with the blessing of "Kanshi (frehly harvested ears of rice" and the statue of "Infant Mary". The congregation then followed in procession, carrying the statue to the parish centre whilst humming the famous Marian hymn "Sakadh Sanagatha Meliyan". A final novena was recited in the parish hall, followed by the distribution of "Novem" in the sweetened milk drink.

Behind the scenes, the Monthi fest committee 2025, comprising of Helen & Mark Castelino, Jacintha Futardo, Carol & Melville D’Silva, Manoj Crasta worked tirelessly under the leadership of Sylveria & Agil Lewis. The committee was able to source this freshly harvested Kanshi all the way from India only due to unrelenting efforts of Jacintha's husband Vinod Futardo. The efforts of this committee would not have been successful without the unconditional support offered by Fr John Mary Sinnot (parish priest of Our lady of Good Counsel, Killiney) and Raymond the sacristy.

Once the religious ceremonies were concluded, the two emcee's Arathi & Melville initiated the cultural celebration with a warm welcome of all the attendees. Though the weather in Dublin wasn’t particularly bright and sunny, the attendees were particularly left elated by the beautiful dance performance by Mellisa Farias and her two little angels. The cultural celebration then continued with some live singing performance by Anil D’Souza, Jevan D’Souza and Reema Mathias. Konkan’s Ireland has a long cultural tradition, where all attendees new to Ireland are asked to come forward and introduce themselves. Keeping this tradition alive, all the new members were welcomed by Arathi. A sumptuous vegetarian lunch was then served on the traditional banana leaf catered by Karuna Caterers in Dublin.

These times are gone but etched into every attendee’s memory and beautifully captured in Monica Mathias’s lens. The cultural programme concluded with a game of housie and attendees grooving to the Baila music to the beats of DJ Anil.