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Monthi (Nativity)Fest 2012 Celebrations in India and Gulf.

UAE :

• Dubai:Monthi Fest celebration by Vamanjoorians, UAE

• Dubai:Konkan Bells Belthangady Varado Celebrates Feast of Nativity

• Dubai: SFX Kutam celebrated Monthi Fest

• Dubai:Udenthichin Neketram celebrated Monthi Fest (Nativity Fest) 2012

• Abudhabi: St Joseph’s Parish - KCO Abu Dhabi

• Dubai: St Marys Church

Mumbai(Bombay) :

• Mumbai:Church Of Our Lady Of Assumption, Kandivli (W)

• Mumbai: Monti Fest Celebrated at Dahisar

• Mumbai: Monti Fest Celebrated at Goregaon.

• Mumbai: Grand Monti Fest Celbrations held at VASAI

• Mumbai:Monti Fest Celebrated at IC COLONY, BORIVLI

• Mumbai:Holy Family Church Chakala

• Mumbai:St. Pius X Church, Mulund-East

• Mumbai:St.Jude Church Parishioners Celebrates Nativity Fest

• Mumbai:Maharashtra Konkan Association Celebrates Monthi Fest

• Mumbai:St. Joseph Church Mira Road-East

• Mumbai:St Theasa, Church, Bandra

• Mumbai:KCA Nallasopara Celebrates Nativity Feast

• Mumbai:Canara Welfare Association Celebrates at Sacred Heart Church, Andheri-E

• Mumbai:Kalwa St.Antony Padua Church’s Konkani Welfare Association

• Mumbai:Monti Fest Celebrated at Bhayandar.

Udupi Diocese :

• Kemmannu: St Theresa Church

• Shirva:Infant Jesus Shrine Pilar

• Shriva:Our Lady of Health

• Udupi:Mother of Sorrows Church

• Pamboor:Holy Cross Church

• Mudarangady:St Francis Xavier Church

• Kallianpur:Milagres Cathedral

• Pernal:Our Lady of Fatima Church

• Belman:St.Joseph church

• Kallianpur:Mount Rosary church, Santhekatte

Mangalore Diocese :

• Taccoode: Villagers Celebrates KURAL PARBHA-2012

• Taccoode:Holy Cross Church

• Neermarga:St. Joseph the Worker Church

• Bondel:St.Lawrence Church

Bangalore :

• Bangalore:St.Peter Konkani Kutamb

• Bangalore:St.Vincent Pallotti Church, Banasawadi

• Bangalore:Ekkvote Association

Kuwait:

• Kuwait:Brahmavar Welfare Association Celebrates Monthi Fest

Doha Qatar :

• Qatar:Our lady of Rosary Church

Australia:

• Australia:Melbourne Konkan Community (MKC)

Canada :

• Mangalorean Association Canada

Austria:

• Monthi Fest Celebrations at Vienna, Austria

   About Monthi Fest:

  The Nativity of Our Lady or the birthday of our beloved Mother Mary, also called as "Monthi Fest" by Mangalorean Catholic community is also celebrated as a harvest festival .As per the local history, “Monthi Fest” has its origin in Farangipet in the outskirts of Mangalore. Here, Fr. Joachin Miranda, a Goan Catholic priest of secular credentials, who lived around 250 years ago, started this practice on top of a hill, on the northern bank of the Nethravati river where lies an ancient place called Monte Moriano.

  The term ’Monthi’ has been derived from the word ’Monte’ and over the years has been modified to be known as ’Monthi Fest’. On this solemn occasion, the Catholics partake in a community feast or a family feast having only vegetarian dishes.

  The celebration usually starts 9 days in advance with novena prayers to mother Mary, during which period small children take special pride in offering flowers everyday. The grand celebration of Monthi Fest is held with traditional gaiety and religious fervour at all the Churches which are decorated tastefully for the occasion. Special masses, feasts, religious ceremonies and a series of festivities in churches, parishes and homes is the order of the day.

  On this special day, the Catholic community members take the freshly grown paddy stalks to their respective churches in a procession as an offering of the first bounty of nature to Mother Mary. Special prayers are offered pleading the Holy Mother to keep the fertility of the nature for generations to come and provide all the bounties of nature to the children of the world.

  It is a tradition in Mangalore for the families to gather together and share a vegetarian meal consisting of at least of 5 vegetarian dishes. The dishes, “alu-dento" and "vorn" are the must in every household. The grains taken form blessed paddy stalk or corn is added to the "vorn" and offered to the members of the family in a symbolic gesture of thanksgiving for our . They continue to celebrate Monthi fest in whatever way they can in their countries and enjoy the nostalgia connected with their own families and parishes back home.