Kuwait Brahmavar Welfare Association Celebrates Monti Fest
Kuwait Brahmavar Welfare association (KBWA) celebrated ‘Monti Fest’ birthday of Our beloved Mother Mary with devotion and grandeur on September 9, at the Indian Community School, Khaitan.
For the past eight years, KBWA has been organizing the Monti Fest in a grand manner to provide an opportunity to all Brahmavargaars to celebrate the Monti fest with Traditional flavor recreating the fond memories of the celebrations in our native place.
MC Walter Santhumayor delivered the introductory remarks. The programme commenced with singing the Theme song of the association. The New Corn was brought in a procession with the singing of hymns. Fr C A Issac Vicar St, Mary’s Syrian Orthodox Church Brahmavar with other priests blessed the new corn. All children enthusiastically participated in offering the flowers to Mother Mary.
Fr C A Issac, Fr Baptist Menezes, Fr Fredrick Braggs, Fr Noel Almeida, Parish Priest, Abbasiya, Kuwait, Fr Anthony Lopex, Fr RajuThomas, Vicar St Gregorios Indian Orthodox Church, Kuwait, Fr Rejigger C Varghese Associate Vicar St Gregorios Indian Orthodox Church, Kuwait, Deacon Sylvester D’Souza were the guests of honour for the programme.
The President escorted the guests to the dais. The guests on the dais lighted the traditional lamp. President Gretta D’Souza extended a 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.
The Treasurer Thomas D’Souza presented a brief report of the activities of the association, highlighting the events of the past year and donations given to the worthy causes.
Children of the association members who excelled in their academics were felicitated by the guests.
Fr C A Issac and Fr Fredrick Braggs in their keynote address congratulated KBWA members for organizing the Monti Fest on a grand scale and invited everyone to show devotion to the Heavenly mother. Other guests of honours also gave their brief message highlighting the importance of the festival and expressed their happiness for being part of the celebrations. Vice President Roney Lewis delivered the vote of thanks.
Fr Baptist Menezes, Vicar General of Udupi Diocese who had just landed in Kuwait, was kind enough to attend the function in spite of his busy schedule and passed on the beautiful Nativity message from the Bishop of Udupi Diocese Dr Gerald Lobo.
The variety of cultural programmes, were performed by talented children and members of the association and children from Ballerinas Dance Group.
It was the time for the “Family Meal” and Fr Noel D’Almeida conducted the Grace before meals. As per the Mangalorean Tradition, vegetarian meal was served on banana leaves with a variety of vegetables like AluDento, Tendli – chana, Padval & Dal, Beans, Kuvalon Bapat and Vorn. Brahmavargaars signature item home cooked “Fish Curry”was the highlight of the lunch and appreciated by one and all. More than 750 guests were present on the occasion and thanked the organization for recreating the Monti Fest celebrations in native flavour.
A raffle draw was organized and attractive prizes were distributed to the lucky winners. MC Walter brilliantly compered the programme and distributed generous spot prizes for those who answered interesting Biblical and religious Quiz questions.
by Vinod Lewis
Pics by Prem Crasto
