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Nairobi Sept 25: Kanara Konkans, under the banner, Kanara Konkani Catholics, Nairobi (KKCN) marked Monthi fest with full religious fervor and traditional regalia. The event unfolded in two phases.

The liturgical celebration was held on Saturday, 13th September at the Grotto of our Lady Consolata, Westlands, Nairobi. The service that started at 3 pm, typically followed the traditional Kanara style, with the blessing of new paddy stalks, showering of flowers on Mother Mary and Holy Mass in honor of our Mother. Adding colour to the occasion was the presence of a noticeable number of local faithful, who are gradually beginning to appreciate the beauty and meaning of Monthi Fest as it is marked in Coastal Kanara. Thanks to the active participation and efforts of the KKCN members, Marian devotion is taking on a new dimension in the parish. It could be recalled here that KKCN facilitated the importation and installation of an icon of our Lady all the way from Mangalore, a couple of years ago.  

The feast was preceded by Novena in honour of Mother Mary on nine consecutive Saturdays, where flowering ceremony, candle light procession in the grotto, praying the rosary and brief reflections on Marian titles picked from the Loreto litany were the main features. Fr. Mervin J. Noronha, SVD, a Divine Word Missionary hailing from Mangalore, led the Novenas and feast day Mass, while four priests concelebrated. Choir was led by a group of Apostolic Carmel nuns, along with the local parish choir. KKCN distributed cakes and juice to all at the end of the celebration.

The second part of the celebration, Noven Jevan, was held on Sunday, 21st September, at the new home of one Mr. Basil Serrao, in the picturesque western outskirts of Nairobi. Each family brought along a dish or two to make the grand Monthi fest lunch. The dishes were so many, one could easily lose the count. Not losing sight of our responsibility to the less fortunate in the society, KKCN presented a cheque for KSh 100,000/- (about US$ 1175/-) to Fr. Francis Rodrigues SJ, towards the education of poor children.