Christians Celebrate Monti Fest with Devotion and Fervor in Udupi
Udupi: The feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Monti Fest) was celebrated with devotion and fervor in and around Udupi district on September 8.
Christians gathered in their respective churches and children offered flowers to mother mary. The Church parish priests blessed the new paddy and took it in a procession inside the church.
Priests concelebrated holy Eucharistic masses and the first harvest paddy was distributed to all attendees of the solemn feast.
The Bishop of Udupi diocese Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo participated in the feast ceremony at Holy Cross Church Pamboor and blessed the new paddy and concelebrated the holy Eucharistic mass along with Fr Henry Mascarenhas Parish Priest of the Church.
In St Antony’s Church Sastan, Parish Priest Fr John Walter Mendonca blessed the new paddy and concelebrated the holy Eucharistic mass.
For the Konkani-speaking Catholic community living in the coastal districts, September 8 has a special significance as the day is also celebrated as the day of the ‘New Rice’.
After the Feast Mass, people returned home with the blessed new paddy, which will be placed at a decorated altar and later mixed with sweet dishes and consumed with thanksgiving to the Lord.
Traditionally, the feast is celebrated as a family feast with a ceremonial lunch in which only vegetables find a place in the day’s menu.
Photo Album
Nativity feast at Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi
Nativity feast at Holy Cross Church, Pamboor
Nativity feast at St Antony’s Church, Sastan
Nativity feast at St Francis Xavier’s Church, Udyavar
Nativity feast at Infant Jesus Church, Pilar – Shirva
Nativity feast at Sacred Heart Church, Kolalgiri
Nativity feast at Immaculate Conception of B.V.M. Church Gangolli
Nativity feast at St Lawrence Basilica Attur – Karkala
Nativity feast at Christ King Church, Karkala
Nativity feast at Our Lady of the Miracles Cathedral, Kallianpur
