Ten days culminated with the celebration of feast of the Nativity of Virgin Mary, also called ‘Monthi Fest’ at Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur, on Friday, September 8, 2023. The preparation for the Monthi Fest commenced on August 30 early morning. 9 days of novena prayers ended today with the children in their finest of dresses carrying colorful flowers and wearing beautiful dresses.
The Monthi Fest began with a large number of children and devotees gathered in front of the Grotto at 8 am. Very Rev. Fr Valerian Mendonca began singing “Sakkad Sangatha Melyaan”, a popular hymn. Colorful flowers were offered to Infant Mary by the children while singing ‘Moriye Hogalsiyam’ after which the new corn was blessed. Then the devotees proceeded towards the Cathedral carrying the blessed Statue of Infant Mary followed by blessed paddy corns by the parish pastoral council members to the Altar of the Cathedral.
The festal High Mass was concelebrated by Very Rev. Fr Valerian Mendonca, Rector, and Rev Fr Joy Andrade, Asst. parish priest.
In his festive homily, Fr Valerian Mendonca highlighted the tradition and devotion for the ‘Monthi Saibin’ since several centuries in Coastal Karnataka. Fr Valerian said that Monthi Fest was celebrated in undivided Dakshina Kannada as far back as the 16th century and continues to this day. Today it is seen as a popular and important feast among the Konkani Catholics of Kanara and West Coast. Although many churches had been destroyed by Tipu Sultan’s soldiers in Kanara, the Monthi Fest celebrations were reborn at Monte Mariano, Faringipet. The Nativity Feast has been celebrated on 8th September, which is exactly nine months after the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (December 8).
Fr Valerian said that this feast day of Mother Mary is also dedicated to the ‘Girl Child’. Girl children are a blessing as life is procreated into the world through a woman. Every girl child is destined to be a daughter, a mother, a wife, a sister. They are pillars to the families and society. It is important that we protect the dignity of girl children, considering the heartbreaking realities that have been prevailing in the society with regards to female infanticide and violence against women. May the Holy Infant Mary be a model for all of us and especially to girl children.
At the end of the festive mass, Fr Valerian Mendonca conveyed the greetings of Monthi Fest to all parishioners. He expressed his gratitude to all concerned for the successful celebration of Monthi Fest. He thanked the main sponsor and pirgent, late Lazarus and Margaret D’Souza of Kote Road, and their family members and other sponsors. He thanked the children’s choir for their outstanding contribution to the liturgy.
Fr Valerian Mendonca distributed candles of honour to the main sponsor and other sponsors of the feast. He also distributed scholarships to meritorious students of the parish in the name of the Pirjent and prizes to the winners of the various competitions like quiz, flower arrangement, etc. to the children.
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