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Monthi (Nativity)Fest 2016 Celebration pictures around the world

Monthi Fest by Canara Konkani Association Borivli

Monti fest by Konkani Catholics, Bhayandar

Month Fest Celebration at Dahisar, Mumbai

Kanajar Welfare Association, Kuwait

UMK celebrates Monti fest 2016.

Jerimeri celebrated 26th Monti Festt

Monthi Fest at Brahmavar Asst. Kuwait

Monthi Fest at Jebel Ali, Dubai

Monthi Fest at Andheri, Mumbai

Monthi Fest at KCWA, Kuwait

Monthi Fest at Mussaffa, UAE

Monthi Fest at Nairobi, Kenya

Monthi Fest at Abu Dhabi

Monthi Fest at Doha Qatar

Monthi Fest at Brampton

Monthi Fest at Salmiya, Kuwait

Monthi Fest at St Aloysius College, Mangalore

Monthi Fest at Mudarangadi

Monthi Fest at Basavanagudi, Bangalore

Monthi Fest by Infant Mary Church, Bijodi, Mangalore

Monthi Fest by Maharastra Konkan Association

Monthi Fest by SPKK, Bangalore

Monthi Fest Celebration at Kemmannu

Monthi Fest Celebration at Milagres Cathedral

St. Joseph’s Chruch, Meera Road

Monthi Fest Celebration at Mount Rosary

Monthi Fest Celebration at Pangala Church

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.

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