A ‘Sweet Home Monti Festh’! Many Catholic Families had 9-Days Novenas & Showered Flowers on the ‘Feast day’ in the comfort of their Sweet Homes, after Bishop of Mangaluru Diocese allowed the Catholic faithful to do novenas, showering flowers to mark Monti Festh this year in the wake of Covid-19
Mangaluru : For the FIRST time in the history of Mangaluru, that Diocese Bishop Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha had allowed Catholic Households to do Novena and Shower Flowers at their respective Homes for ‘Monthi Festh’, to keep the tradition alive, during this Covid-19 pandemic. The nine days of novena which began on 30 August, to mark the ‘Monthi Festh’ said in Konkani language or ‘Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary’, which was earlier restricted to Churches only was this year allowed in every Catholic household of the Diocese of Mangaluru and Udupi. And many Catholic faithful took Bishop’s words seriously, in having novenas, showering flower petals at the statue of Baby Mary. And also thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, a bunch of young and old showered flowers to ‘Monthi Mai’ in the comfort of their home.
For the Catholic Christians in “Rome of the East”, as Mangaluru is called, the traditional family feast “Monthi Festh” celebrated after nine days of novena is an integral part of the culture, which reminds them of their original roots.. However, with pandemic, the novenas with major attraction of little children, an adult and old showering flower on the statue of Blessed Virgin Mary is a miss. In order to keep the tradition alive, the Mangaluru Diocese this year in the wake of the pandemic has allowed households to do novena and shower flowers in the comfort of their home.
“Monthi Festh” aka Feast of Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary is a major Mangalorean Catholic festival which falls on September 8 every year. This festival celebrates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and in the Mangalorean Catholic community involves blessing of Novem (new crop). The festival derives its name from the Monte Mariano Church at Farangipet in South Canara (now called Dakshina Kannada), and was initiated by Joachim Miranda, a Goan Catholic priest at Farangipet in 1763. The Church is also also known as Mount of Mary. On this solemn occasion, the Catholics partook in a community feast or a family feast having only vegetarian dishes.
L-R : Henry Fernandes, his daughters Smitha D’Souza and Seema Lasrado, grandchildren-Shawn D’Souza, Reniece Lasrado, Rishon Lasrado, and Mary Hilda (wife of Henry) of Mangaluru/Kinnigoli
The nine days novena in preparation for the feast had begun on 30 August with Novena Mass in all churches in the district. The Novena days were the preparation for the Birthday of Mother Mary as well harvest feast for the whole family where the day begins with mass with children and devotees adoring the statue of Our lady of nativity with flowers. Earlier years there used to be a grand procession on the feast day to venerate and respect Mother Mary with flowers before the beginning of festival mass, but it was not done this year, due to pandemic. The atmosphere used to be resounding with the traditional hymn of “Sokkad Sangata Mellyan, Moriyek Hogalsiya..”, and it was really amazing to see children in full joy and enthusiasm, where they brought flowers in their respective colorful baskets to honour Blessed Virgin Mary, but all this was missed this year.
Victor and Jane Cutinha, Nirmala D’Silva & kids, and Marcel/Smitha D’Silva & kids, Mangaluru
But to keep the tradition and spirit still alive of Monti Festh, quite a few Catholic faithful respecting Bishop’s direction, had decided to have the novenas, feast prayers and showering of flowers in their respective homes- and many liked the idea, to keep them safe from the spread of the Virus, knowing that many people would gather at the Churches being a BIG feast of the Mangalorean Catholics. Parents Mrs Shiny and Roshan Monteiro, residing in Bondel, Mangaluru, who all these years used to take their six-year-old daughter Neoline Monteiro to church for the novena mass with a bucket of flowers. “This year it is not possible due to the virus scare. However, we find new arrangements meaningful. The children are excited and more involved in decoration. When we pray novena at home, we don’t shower flowers instead offer gently each flower to Mother Mary,” said Shiny Monteiro, a teacher by profession, speaking to Team Mangalorean
Yet another Catholic Family, Loy and Divya D’souza from Shivabagh, Mangaluru joined by their mother Gracy, and two daughters, Sasha (whose birthday is also on 8 Sept) and Leisha celebrated the Monti Fest with prayers, placing flowers at the statue of Mother Mary on the feast day. Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Divya D’souza said, “We thought of attending the mass at the Church, but on a second thought, assuming many would attend the eucharistic ceremony on that day, and to be on the safer side, decided to celebrate it at home. Even though it was not appropriate missing Church mass, however, we have to think of our safety too, and we all loved it”.
Loy and Divya D’souza and Family, Mangaluru
Mrs Nirmala D’silva from Nanthoor, Mangaluru (her husband Roshan is in Kuwait) along with her children Miss Shinelle and Elric, had celebrated Novena and feast of Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary at her dad and mother’s ( Victor and Mrs Jane Cutinha) house in Kadri, where also kids of Marcel and Smitha D’silva, namely Sweedal and Shawn (neighbour of Victor Cutinha) also joined them. Speaking to Team Mangalorean Mrs Nirmala said, “Every year my children used to get excited gathering flowers from our garden, put them in the decorative basket and take them to church to throw them at the statue of Mary during the procession. Unfortunately, this year due to the fear of Covid-19 we decided to have the novena and feast at home, and it worked real good, except it was all at home and not at Church”.
Children of Roshan and Shiny Monteiro, Bondel-Mangaluru
Mrs Hilda Fernandes ( International Athlete) and her husband Henry Fernandes from Kadri, Mangaluru along with their daughters Smitha D’souza and Seema Lasrado, and grandchildren did their novenas and celebrated the feast at their daughter’s apartment ‘Raj Heritage’ in Kinnigoli. Bishop of Mangaluru Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha had also joined for the “Novem Jevan’ at his brother’s place in the same Raj Heritage Apts. Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Mrs Hilda Fernandes said, “The Nativity Feast was celebrated in a grand manner by the Catholic residents of Raj Heritage Apartments in Kinnigoli, where several senior citizens and children as well live. Due to the Circumstances of the current pandemic and to maintain safety guidelines, the residents had organised nine days of Novena in the building premises. Every resident of the apartments was actively involved in arranging for flowers, sweets and sugarcane. Due to the active participation from everyone the children and the adults equally enjoyed the Nativity Feast in the true Spirit. Me and my husband, enjoyed this unique way of Monti Festh, in the company of my daughter, Mrs Seema Lasrado, who stays in this apartment with her two children”.
The diocese had tweaked some parts of the novena and festive celebrations during this year due to the onset of the pandemic. Earlier novena in every church was conducted after the Holy Mass, this year it was vice-versa. Children aged below 10 and senior citizens were not allowed for any church mass prayers gatherings. During the novena, showering of flowers was skipped instead devotees offered only one flower to Mother Mary. Also the Bishop came up with the decision to allow Catholic families to have novena and shower flowers to Mary at their homes, which was kind of safe for the children during the pandemic. On festive day— September 8, there were no processions, and churches held more than one festive mass.
It should be noted that Christians all over the world celebrated the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) or simply the birthday of Mary, the Mother of our savior Jesus Christ, as well as our Heavenly Mother. The birthday of Blessed Virgin Mary was celebrated with the blessing of the new corn and family meal which is one of the great celebrations of the Konkani Catholic community residing all over the world. People living in the West coast of India, Christians celebrated this feast as’ Nove- Jevnche ‘ or in other words ‘ Festival of Harvest’ . The people use this occasion to salute the kindness of the divine powers and earn their kindness. This is also the festival in which they thankfully acknowledge the kindness of Mother Nature and mother earth for the bounteous crops.
On September 8, the Catholics consumed only a vegetarian meal, known as ‘Nove Jevan (New Meal)’. The newly harvested rice stalks and sugar-canes, duly blessed by the priests at church, were taken home by the people. The grains were then crushed at home, added to milk, and served to the family members. So it was also a festival representing the symbol of family unity. This feast was celebrated with joy and happiness as it is the harvest festival as well, a time when the farmer is getting the crop ready for the year. Monthi Festh is the celebration of family bonds, filial relationships and a feast which makes us aware that we are very much part of nature around us bringing us closer to Mother Nature. It is really amazing to see that all Konkani Catholics unite wherever they are spread across the Globe with one spirit and zeal and make it a point to celebrate this great festival of Monti fest all over the world.
