Canara Konkani Association Borivli celebrates Monti Fest

By Rons Bantwal
Bellevision Media Network

Mumbai, 16 Sep 2016: Canara Konkani Association Borivli (CKAB) here celebrates annually the traditional festival of Novem (new harvested corn) that usually celebrated for centuries by Konkan Christian farmers, Dakshina Kannada and peripheral parishes and all Catholic households back in the districts of coastal Karnataka, as new - crop harvest festival on the very beautiful feast of ‘Nativity of Mary’ called as Monti Fest in Mangaluru, Udupi, Kundapura, Puttur, Kodagu, etc.

 

Monti Fest was celebrated this time here in Borivli, here with full gear pomp and fervor on Sunday September 11. Freshly harvested new corns from paddy fields here, were placed near the feet of statue of our Infant Mary, that surrounded by fresh flowers; were blessed in the I C Quadrangle in front of the St Francis Xavier Church, I C Colony, Borivli, here at 5.45 pm by the guest priest Fr Nelson Pais from Urwa parish of Mangaluru, Fr Lancy D’Silva, parish priest of St Louis parish, Dahisar here and our I C Colony assistant parish priest Fr Joel Pinto.

 

 

Mama Mary was honored with showers of flowers and gayans like ‘Sokkad sangatha melyan, …. Moryek hogolsiyan,’ while bringing the statue in procession to the foot of the altar at I C Colony church.

 

High Mass was concelebrated by the priest-trio. ‘Let our blessed mother Mary be the role model to our mothers and daughters in our families by being humble and by life of purity,’ preached the guest priest Fr Nelson, from the pulpit.

 

At 8.00pm, a beautiful Konkani cultural programme comprised dances, Konkani songs, comedy and fun skits, was staged in the St Francis Engineering College premises, that located near the I C. Church Mount Poinsur, here.

 

In addition to the mass celebrant - priest-trio, the I C Colony assistant parish priest Fr Melroy joined in this celebration. Thrill and surprise was generated by the perfectly sung full old timer Konkani song‘Anjaa sarke chedu’ by Fr Lancy, in its aput  Konkani.

 

‘Let us not feel shy and get belittled to learn and speak our mother tongue,’ came the suggestion from Fr Joel’s address. ‘Not to allow our mother tongue Konkani, our beautiful traditions and culture to die,’ was the driving message came from all the speakers.

 

The guest priests were honored by CKAB president Albert W. D’Souza with flower-bouquets. 

 

The stage performing dancers, musicians, singers, comedians and artists were appreciated and honored by the CKAB vice president George D’Souza with a small present each. 

 

I C Colony parish Konkani choir-master Charles D’Cunha and Veronica Noronha of Dahisar parish, were the main planners along with CKAB strived for the success of this programme.

 

Fellowship meal to savor the blessed New Corn (called novemn jeunchemn) by the partaking Konkani lovers was the last stroke of the Fest day. 

 

The Canara Konkani Association likes to place on record its heart felt thanks to I C Colony parish priest Fr Barthol and also the guest priests. A very big thanks also to Bro Melcheor and other Franciscan Brothers of Mount Poinsur, Borivli; for their premises and overall punch of support that extended constantly by them to our Konkani community activities.