Report: Lavina D'Sa
Pics: Arun Jivraj Lobo

Muscat, Sep 9: Konkani Community of The Holy Spirit Church of Ghala, Muscat celebrated the Monthi Fest with great pomp and grandeur on Saturday September 7. For the first time in the history of Ghala church a novena was conducted by the Konkani community of the parish in honor of Monthi fest for nine consecutive days from August 29.

Fr Santosh Rodrigues, director of the Family Enrichment Center in Bajjodi, Mangalore diocese was specially present for the novena and the feast mass. During the novena Fr Santosh touched upon various themes in his sermons every day. Members of the community participated in novena with devotion throughout and great enthusiasm could be seen among the children bringing and showering flowers to Mother Mary every day.

On September 7 at 4.30 pm the feast celebrations began with a rosary recitation at the grotto followed by showering of flowers to the bambino of mother Mary. The feast mass was concelebrated by Rev.FrAlbert D'Silva and,the parish priest, Fr Santosh Rodrigues the guest priest, Fr Antony assistant parish priest and Rev.Fr Sajajya John visiting priest from the Tamil community of the parish. The melodious choir headed by Rony Lobo and his group. Gift packs were distributed to all the children who showered flowers.

The cultural program along with the traditional novem jevan was organized by the Konkani speaking community of the parish. Traditional food with variety of vegetables was prepared by community members and was served on banana leaves for about 900 people .Also a display of various items like Maand –Kurpon, Katne, Dalli, Doyo, Chondor,Kandi and many more such traditional items were kept for display near the stage and were a part of the stage decorations.

The cultural programme began with an introductory note by Wilfred R D’souza which described the inception of Monthi fest it was followed by a spiritual tableau that described how God promised Mother Mary to this world from the time of Adam and Eve. It was enacted by Ria, Rion, Merric, Vanessa, Kate, Kia, Rebecca, Roshal, Tripti, Nelson, Ivan, Aswini, Sunitha Futardo and Suzy. Backstage commentary was given by John Gonsalves, Peter D’souza and Lavina D’sa and was organized by Leena Baretto and Leena Fernandes. The president of the Mangalorean community of the Ghala parish Micheal Goveas was the Karya yeazman of the day. A traditional Mangalorean band lead the President of the Mangalorean community in the Ghala Parish Micheal Goveas, the vice president Edward Mendonca,the karya gurkar Luvad liya depicted by Lionel Castelino and his wife Luizza bai depicted by Aslita D’souza to the dias. Karya Yezman, Luvad Liya and Luiviza bai welcomed the audience. Micheal Goveas whole heartedly thanked all the sponsors, families that prepared the novem jevan and the volunteers. The Parish Priest Fr Albert D’silva, guest Fr Santhosh Rodrigues and Fr Sajaya John were escorted to the dais by the executive committee comprising of Glenda Castelino, Rony Lobo,Helen Sequiera and Robert Saldanha and the core committee comprising of John Gonsalves and Philomena Mendonca. They were accompanied by the traditional band and pompous umbrella holders. Meera Saldhana and Cyntia Saldhana welcomed the priests with a floral bouquet.

A traditional opening ceremony was held whereby the rice filled in the “Kanti “ was filled in a “Sher” and poured into a “Kalshi” to the brim.Fr Albert delivered his message to the audience. A part of all the cooked food was taken onto the dais by chef boys which was then blessed by Fr Santhosh Rodrigies. The chef boys on the stage were Shane Pinto,Joshua Joseph, Rolwin Lobo, Arrol Saldhana, Aaron Saldhana, Prince Fernandes, Joshua Baretto, Royston, Roshwin Lobo, Jeston Gonsalves and Rayan Fernandes. The winner of Gulf voice of Mangalore 2012, Reena Dsouza was honored by Fr Albert D’silva with a floral bouquet. Lionel Castelino, the Luvad then proposed the “Bolaiki” and offered ”Jevnak Udak” while his wife Luizami enacted by Aslita D’souza offered Panpod to the audience.

The first part was compered by Lavina D’sa and the entire cultural programme was organized and supervised by Nirmala Goveas.

The second half of the programme consisted of a cultural programme which began with a dance by the Ghalanthlin Kitalan which consisted of the dancers, Lizy Barboza, Sharon, Melina Goveas, Stacy Vaz, Yohan Furtado, Reiya, Chelsea Dsa, Kane Dsouza, Liza Dsa, Muriel Dsouza, it was choreographed by Glenda Castelino.

Peter Fernandes sang to the tune of Volu Volu Pavla Kadun ye, while Chrizanne Almeda accompanied the melody with a dance.

The tiniest tots of the parish danced the Goan Mando, the dancers in the Goan Mando were Siyona, Zephan Furtado, Laura Dsa, Lionel Vaz, Clarissa & Clerita, Saldanha, Gloria Barboza, Alan And Ayana, Fernandes, Macniel Dsouza, Cheryl, Kaven Dsouza it was choreographed by Glenda Castelino.

Charolette Cutinha and Cavin D’souza then sung the melodious song of Hav Kobu tu muhuji Pali. The teenagers of the parish gave a scintillating dance performance which was choreographed by the young Prinyanka Mendonca, the dancers were Priyanka Mendonca, Michelle Gonsalves, Rishal Dsouza, Roshal Lobo,Rebecca Dsouza, Shaveena Menezes,Jeston Gonsalves,Neil Fernandes, Aaryl Saldhana.

Gonkara Manglura a musical melody was sung by Nirmala Goveas and Brian Madta Melina Goveas accompanied them and danced perfect to the rhythm of the song.

The MCCP talents dance to a fusion of songs, it was choreographed by Sylvestor Vaz and the dancers consisted of Lisa Dsa, Craig Mathais, Stacy Vas, Andril Lobo, Melina Goveas, Shane Menezes, Reia Correa, Lional Vaz, Chelsia Dsa, Johan Furtado, Meural Dsouza, Aaron Saldanha, Lizy Barboza, Macniel Dsouza

The melody of Asumpta was sung by Noel Machado a new talent on the stage.

Ek sondrem voir antralar was very beautifully enacted by Jacinta Pereira, Lloyd Sequeira, Lawrence Noronha, Sylvestor Vaz it was choreographed by Lloyd Sequeira.

The famous singing talent of Muscat Zino Saldhana mesmerized every one with his melodious song.

A grand bonanza draw was conducted by Nirmala Goveas, Robert Saldhana and Cythia Saldhana. Micheal Goveas and Fr Santhosh Rodrigues distributed the prizes.

A representation of the traditional roce of Mangalore was then enacted a by various artists, it began by a dance Modla bandun matov ghala by Sylvestor Vaz, Meera Saldhana,Sachin Lobo, Jyotsna Thanrakan, Reizen Periera and Zeena Periera and choreographed by Sachin Lobo. Peter Fernandes very meticulously organized a true enactment of the roce ceremony .

It was followed by baila sung by Cannon Dsouza, Cavin D’souza, Charlotte Cutinha, Rony Lobo,Merwin D’souza, Alwyn Baptist and Brian Madta, it was accompanied by the musicians Trivian Goveas, Savio,Cannon D’souza. The well spirited audience joined them on the floor for the dance.

The second half of the program was compered by the very talented Nirmala Goveas and Wilfred R Pangla.