St Peter’s Konkani Kutamb, Bengaluru celebrates Monti Fest
Bengaluru: St Peter’s Konkani Kutamb, celebrated Monti Fest (Nativity of our Blessed Virgin Mary), at St Peter’s Church Rustham Bhag, Off Old Airport Road, Bengaluru on Thursday, September 8, with a Holy Mass in Konkani at 8 am.
The blessing of New Paddy by Fr Richard Rego SJ was held outside of the church near Oxford building and brought in a procession singing Konkani hymn “Sakkad sangatha melyan”, children led the procession with beautiful flowers. Unlike previous years this year the Konkani Mass was celebrated first, The Parish Priest Fr Arokiaswamy Sebastian narrated the importance of different harvest festivals of different communities in India. Fr Adrian Mascarenhas the former Parish Priest con-celebrated the Mass.
After the Mass, the blessed paddy was distributed to the devotees. This was followed by the children gathering near the Grotto in front of Mother Mary’s statue to honour Her.
As the choir sang the beautiful Konkani hymn, ‘Moriyek hogolshiyam’, the children showered colourful flowers on Mother Mary.
Fr Richard Rego in his introduction spoke about the importance of Monti Fest. In his message, he stressed on family values and urged to keep Mangalurean Konkani culture alive.
Throughout the Mass, the Konkani choir sang melodious hymns
After the Mass, the Secretary of SPKK delivered the vote of thanks. Both the Secretary and President of Konkani Kutamb expressed their gratitude to all those who contributed generously and to those who actively took part in the celebration.
Blessed Novem mixed with sweet Roce was distributed to the devotees followed by breakfast.
Sugarcane was distributed to the gathering in a true Mangalorean traditional way.
There were around 250 people gathered and they cherished every moment of this celebration. This event reminded everyone of their good old days in Mangalore.
On the whole, Monti Saibinichem Fest was celebrated by St Peter’s Konkani Kutamb Bengaluru, in a very grand and traditional way, with the support of all the members and their families.
by Simon Lasrado
