Report & Pics: Wilson Saldanha Shirthady/Kuwait 
Daijiworld Media Network - Kuwait
 
Kuwait, Sep 10: The Konkani community of Holy Family Cathedral in association with “Kuwait Canara Welfare Association” (KCWA) under the presidentship of Anil Fernandes celebrated the feast of their Patron beloved Mother Mary (Monthi Fest), on Sunday September 8 at the Holy Family Cathedral premises in Kuwait city from 4.15 pm onwards.

The program started with blessing of new harvest (Novem) at 4:15 pm by Bishop Camillo Ballin along with Vicar General Fr Mathews, Fr Antony Lopez, visiting priest Fr Joel Rocky D’Souza and Deacon Sylvester D’Souza followed by Holy mass in Konkani by Fr Joel at 4:30 pm.  The blessed grain and dates were distributed after the mass.  

Traditional fellowship dinner was blessed by Fr Antony Lopez, Fr Joel Rocky D’Souza and Diacon Sylvester D’Souza.  It was served to a large crowd of gathered devotees with mouthwatering Mangalorean vegetarian dishes prepared by M & M Caterers. KCWA follows this tradition every year during first Sunday after nativity feast considering the holiday for domestic servants who do not get a chance to attend any programs which are specially conducted during weekends.  Incidentally as the feast was on Sunday this year, it was witnessed by record number of people.

The ‘Monthi Fes’t tradition was started by Capuchin priests in Mangalore 250 years back and incidentally this year KCWA is completing 25 years which is 10% of the feast celebration years.  Every year the attendance for the program increases tremendously which is a proof of its popularity and sign of people in gulf missing traditional feast of homeland.