Media Release
Udupi, Sep 7: Monthi Fest, the feast celebrating the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a significant religious and cultural celebration for the Christian community, particularly in coastal Karnataka. The feast, observed on September 8, carries a special message of gratitude, family unity, dignity of the girl child and care for creation, said bishop Leslie Clifford D’Souza of the diocese of Udupi.
In his Monthi Fest message, bishop D’Souza said the birth of Mother Mary marked an important chapter in God’s plan of salvation. Mary, who accepted the unique calling to become the Mother of God, grew up as a simple girl in a devout family. Her life remains a model of faith, humility, purity, obedience and complete surrender to God’s will.
The bishop stressed that every child is a precious gift from God and highlighted the importance of respecting the dignity of the girl child. He said every girl deserves love, safety, quality education, equal opportunities and respect, adding that ensuring these rights is not only the responsibility of families but of society as a whole.
“Respecting the girl child is respecting human dignity,” he said, noting that Mary’s life stands as a powerful example of the significant role women can play in building families and society. He described Monthi Fest as an occasion to renew the commitment to honouring girls and safeguarding their future.
Bishop D’Souza also described Monthi Fest as fundamentally a celebration of the family. The tradition of coming together in prayer, receiving blessings from elders, sharing joy with children and gathering around the family table reflects the true meaning of family, he said.
At a time when modern lifestyles are reducing opportunities for family members to spend time together, communicate and pray as a family, Monthi Fest reminds people of the importance of family bonds. A family, he said, is not merely a group of people living under one roof, but a living community united through love, respect, forgiveness, sacrifice, prayer and sharing.
He further said that the family of Mary provides a meaningful model in a society facing loneliness, generational gaps, strained relationships and declining values. Families built on faith in God, mutual love, sacrifice and service, he added, are the true strength of society.
Highlighting the tradition of offering the first fruits of the new harvest to God, bishop D’Souza said the practice reminds people that every blessing in life is a gift from God. Sharing the new harvest among family members is not merely about sharing food, but represents gratitude, participation, fraternity and coexistence.
He also called for greater responsibility towards the environment. As a harvest festival, Monthi Fest reminds people of their duty to protect the earth, water, air, soil, plants and other gifts of creation entrusted to humanity, he said.
The bishop urged people to adopt environmentally responsible practices such as planting trees, conserving water, protecting soil fertility, reducing the use of plastic and maintaining a balanced relationship with nature for the benefit of future generations.
Extending his heartfelt greetings to the people on the occasion of Monthi Fest, bishop D’Souza prayed for peace, love and unity in families through the intercession of Mother Mary. He wished that every girl child would be respected as a precious gift from God, that the fields would prosper and that the environment would flourish with greenery.
“May the feast of the Nativity of Mary bring the light of hope to every home, the sign of love to every family and a renewed commitment to the protection of all creation,” he said.