Clement Pais
Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Sep 7: 'Monthi Fest', also known as Nativity of Our Mother Mary is a feast celebrated by the Mangalurean Catholic community. As preparation for the feast, nine-day novena is held in every church during which period little children take special pride in offering flowers everyday. On the Nativity feast day, the faithful take the freshly grown paddy stalks to their respective churches and offer them to Mother Mary. The grains from the paddy or corn are added to milk and offered to the members of the family as a gesture of thanksgiving.

Here's the story of a man who has been supplying paddy stalks to churches from past 12 years, absolutely free of charge. Herbert D'Souza (55) celebrates Monthi Fest by donating paddy stalks from his field to Cascia church. He lives at Jeppinamogaru with his wife Freida D'Souza and two children. He has 2 acres of ancestral land, out of which 20 cents is reserved solely to cultivate paddy for Monthi Fest.

Speaking to daijiworld, Herbert D'Souza said,"Our family was dependent on cutivation in the past. We used to grow sugercane, chilly, cucumber etc in the farm land. Now we do not cultivate as before, as I am now into sand mining business."

But that's not all. Herbert gives paddy stalks not only to the church but also to temples during festivals. This time he gave paddy for Onam celebrations. He also lends his boats for 'visarjan' during Ganesh Chaturthi. In appreciation of his gesture, temples offer him rewards, but he refuses payment for his service. He says every year, he spends Rs 12,000 in donating paddy to churches and temples, but does not charge a single rupee.

"I was church ward Gurkar for 12 years. All the ward members would come to help during the sowing and reaping of paddy. As I come from a farming background I do not feel any difficulty in working in the farm. I will continue my work in future also," he says.