Media Release
Frankfurt, Sep 17: Konkani Kutam e V Germany celebrated Monti Fest 2026 with great devotion, cultural enthusiasm and community spirit on Saturday, September 12, at Saalbau Griesheim, Frankfurt. Nearly 300 members, families and friends gathered to celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and give thanks for the new harvest.
The celebration was honoured by the presence of Saurabh Singh, consul (consular & community affairs), Consulate General of India, Frankfurt, as the chief guest, accompanied by his wife, Dr Sanya Singh.
The presence of Saurabh Singh added special significance to the celebration, reflecting the strong connection between the Indian diaspora and its cultural and religious heritage in Germany.
The celebration began with the traditional flower offering and solemn Holy Mass. Fr Robert Rego was the main celebrant, concelebrating with Fr Jason and guest priest Fr Manohar Noronha. The traditional offering of flowers by children and families beautifully reflected the faith and heritage of the Konkani community.
The Holy Mass was enhanced by a large choir led by Waylon Machado, with a dedicated team of singers and musicians. Their uplifting hymns added a deeply spiritual and celebratory atmosphere to the Mass. The religious arrangements were coordinated with the dedicated support of the Bethany Sisters team.
The formal programme was opened with a warm welcome by treasurer Priya Lobo and secretary Praveen Serrao, who greeted the gathering on behalf of the core team. The leadership comprises vice president Allen Cutinha, secretary Praveen Serrao, joint secretary Nandan D’Souza, treasurer Priya Lobo, cultural secretary Steffi Pereira and president Keeth Shan Noronha.
The cultural programme brought together children's Konkani songs and skits, youth and adults through songs, dances, a skit, group singing and entertainment. The programme was emceed by cultural secretary Steffi Pereira, with support from Nandan D’Souza. Lavita D’Souza added a special touch with her wonderful live performance, while the participation of numerous children and families brought energy and colour to the celebrations.
A much-loved tradition of the celebration was the traditional vegetable auction, featuring fresh vegetables and produce brought from home by families. The auction created plenty of excitement and laughter while keeping alive a cherished tradition associated with Monti Fest celebrations back home.
Another highlight was the delicious traditional coastal Karnataka cuisine, bringing the authentic flavours of South Canara and the surrounding coastal regions. The food, enjoyed together with family and friends, created a wonderful “home away from home” feeling, taking many back to cherished Monti Fest celebrations and the traditions of their homeland.
A special milestone of the day was the launch of the new official Konkani Kutam e V Germany website https://konkanikutam.de/, formally launched by Fr Robert Rego.
Founded in Germany in 2003, Konkani Kutam began as a small community initiative involving a handful of families, with Fr Robert Rego closely associated with the community from its early years. Over the years, the association evolved with changing times—from telephone and email communication to Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, and now to a dedicated website.
The new website marks another important chapter in the association’s journey. It will help preserve the history of Konkani Kutam, strengthen communication among members, showcase community activities and provide a digital platform for the Konkani community in Germany and beyond.
The celebrations also featured the inter-ward Konkani group singing competition, bringing together different generations and encouraging members to celebrate and preserve the Konkani language, music and cultural heritage.
The program concluded with a vote of thanks by president Keeth Shan Noronha, who expressed heartfelt gratitude to the chief guest, priests, volunteers, performers, supporters and the entire Konkani Kutam community for making Monti Fest 2026 a memorable celebration.
Monti Fest 2026 once again demonstrated that distance from one's homeland cannot diminish the bond with one's roots. Through faith, flowers, traditional food, Konkani songs, cultural traditions and the warmth of community, Konkani Kutam successfully recreated the spirit of Monti Fest, bringing a little piece of coastal Karnataka to Germany.