🕓 September 8, 2013
Pictures: Steevan Mendonca, PlanetM Digitals
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 8:45 AM with the blessing of the new
crop (paddy stalks) Rev. Fr. Henry Mascarenhas from Bishops house Udupi followed by the
showering of flowers by the children in front of the image of infant Mary. In his homily
the priest described the virtues of a mother and also called on everyone to respect the
rights of a girl child.
Prizes were distributed to the winners of the games that were earlier conducted by ICYM
Kanajar. Blessed paddy corn (novem) and sugarcane was distributed to all.
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