Report by Ajay DSouza, USA
Pics by Stephen D`Almeida

California, Sep 9:  On a beautiful day of bright sunshine the Indian Catholic families of Northern California joined together to celebrate the feast of the Nativity of Mother Mary. This feast is traditionally called Monthi Festh.  The celebration began with a solemn Mass at Saint Thomas of Canterbury Church at 11:30AM. The Mass was celebrated by Fr. George Aranha. The mass began with children walking in procession to offer flowers to Mother Mary.  The celebration of the mass was rendered festive by a children's choir. The choir sang traditional hymns of Monthi Festh, beautiful hymns like 'Sakkad Sangatha Melyan'. Bushels of corn and fresh fruit were offered during Mass as symbolic of the harvest.

Following mass everyone met at San Thomas Aquino Park for a well arranged pot luck buffet 'Novem Jevan'. The food was traditional Goan and Mangalorean. The traditional 'Novem Jevan' is a family meal back in India. In contrast a large family of over a hundred and fifty shared the 'Novem Jevan' in an open air park, with plastic spoons and paper plates.  Each of the members prepared a dish or two. This made it a larger family meal in the truest sense. Most families were just back in the US after their summer vacation in homeland India. This was a nice opportunity for families and children to share their vacation experiences with one another.
 

Being in a park after a sumptuous 'Festhache Jevan' could games and fun be far behind. Children were kept busy and entertained with several games for them. There were games for kids of all ages from tiny tots to teenagers. While children participated in the revelry, the adults played soccer and 'Ispit' in the park. This was a day to remember for the Indian Catholics living in Northern California. Though far from our motherland and our culture coming together as a community brought back a feeling of the feast as celebrated back home.

This is an effort by Indian Catholics living in Northern California to experience the solemn and tradition of the feast as it is celebrated back in our motherland in India while still living far away in a different culture.

INFOCUS (Indian Families Of Catholic Origin in US) the faith community of Indian Catholics in Northern California, makes this possible. INFOCUS celebrates a Catholic Mass followed by a lunch and community celebration every month on a Sunday. If you are interested in participating please contact Mrs. Cresentia Lobo at infocusgroup@yahoo.com or or ph# (408) 374-3692. There are no formalities of registration, no hard and fast attendance rules nor any fees to be paid at INFOCUS.

Watch Nativity Feast Celebration Photo Albums: From Mangalore, Bangalore, Mumbai, Middle East, UK.... Click Here