Kuwait: ‘Monthi Fest’ birthday of Our beloved Mother Mary was celebrated with devotion and grandeur by Kuwait Brahmavar Welfare association (KBWA) with their family and friends on 11th September at Indian Community School, Khaitan.
For the past seven years KBWA has been organizing the Monthi Fest on a grand scale to provide an opportunity to all Brahmavargaars to meet and celebrate the Monthi fest with Traditional flavor recreating the fond memories of the Monthi Fest celebration in our native place.
Master of Ceremony Deepak Andrade gave a brief introduction about the association and invited the guests to join the prayer services. The New Corn was brought in procession with singing hymns. Bishop Yuhanon Mar Polycarpose Metropolitan with other priests blessed the new corn with the singing of “Moreik Hogoslia” and “Sokkod Sangata Melyan” and offering the flowers by small children.
His Highness Yuhanon Mar Polycarpose Metropolitan, Fr Claude Mascarenhas, Fr Franklin D’Souza, Fr Noel Almeida, Parish Priest, Abbasiya, Kuwait, Fr Reji Thomas, Vicar St Gregorios Indian Orthodox Church, Kuwait, Fr Xavier D’Souza Parish Priest Ahmadi Church were the guest of honours of the programme.
President escorted the guests to the dais. The guest of honours along with the President lighted the lamp. President Gretta D’Souza extended warm welcome to all the guests present and expressed her gratitude for the support and cooperation extended. The invited dignitaries and sponsor of the event were felicitated with a bouquet of flowers as a mark of respect for their generosity. KBWA new theme song was sung by the members of the association. The Treasurer Thomas D’Souza presented the brief report of the activities of the association, highlighting the events of the past year and donations given to the worthy causes.
His Highness Yuhanon Mar Polycarpose Metropolitan & Fr Claude Mascarenhas in his key note address congratulated KBWA members for organizing the Monti Fest on grand scale and invited everyone to show our devotion to our Heavenly mother. Other guests of honours also gave their brief message highlighting the importance of this festival and expressed their happiness for being part of the celebrations. Vice President Roney Lewis delivered the vote of thanks.
The variety of cultural programmes, were performed by talented children and members of the association.
It was the time for “Family Meal” and Fr Noel D’Almeida conducted the Grace before meals. As per our Mangalorean Tradition vegetarian meal was served on banana leaves with variety of vegetables like Alu Dento, Tendli – chana, Padval & Dal, Beans, Kuvalon Bapat and Vorn. Brahmavargaars signature item home cooked “Fish Curry” was the highlight pf the menu of the lunch and appreciated by one and all. More than 650 guests were present on the occasion and thanked the organization for recreating the Monthi Fest celebration in native atmosphere.
Raffle draw was organized and attractive prizes were distributed to the lucky winners. MC Deepak Andrade brilliantly compered the programme and distributed generous spot prizes those who answered the interesting Biblical Quiz questions.