Monthi Feast Celebrations at Kanajar

🕓 September 8, 2011

Kanajar, Sep 8: The Nativity Feast, known as Monthi Fest in Konkani, which is the birthday of Virgin Mary the mother of Jesus Christ, also has the Mangalorean traditional and cultural significance as a harvest festival. For the Konkani Catholics of the west coast of India, whose ancestral occupation was agriculture, it is the time of the year to thank mother earth for the bounteous crop they received. In modern times it also the day of family reunion as the family members from far and wide gather and together they feast on the lunch of vegetables. For the children it is the feast of flowers as they get to offer a variety of flowers to Mother Mary.

The Catholic community of Kanajar celebrated the Monthi Feast with fervor at Lourdes Church Kanajar. The celebration began at 8:30 AM with the blessing of the new crop (paddy stalks) by parish priest Rev. Fr. Dr John Mendonca followed by the showering of flowers by the children in front of the image of infant Mary. In his homily the parish priest described the virtues of Mother Mary and asked every one to follow in her footsteps.

The blessed crop was distributed to all the people. As per the tradition the sugar cane was distributed to all the people.

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