Monti Fest celebrated in Bahrain
Report By: Fredrick D’souza & Hilary Tellis

Bahrain, Sep 14: Konkani Community of the Sacred Heart Parish in Bahrain celebrated the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary, called “Konkan Harvest Festival” in grand style on Friday, 12 September.
This year, a nine day novena was started for the first time and was attended by over 300 Konkani community parishioners and their children who delightfully offered flowers to infant Mary daily,
in spite of the hot and humid weather. 

On the feast day congregation of over 1500 gathered at the outdoor stage as parish priest, Rev. Fr Thomas Quadros, along with assistant priest, Rev. Fr Vincent D’Souza, blessed the paddy, along with the statue of Infant Mary.  The children offered flowers to Mary as the choir sang the traditional hymns ‘Sokkod sangata melian’ followed by ‘Moriek hogolsiam’.

This was followed by procession and feast mass in the Bishop Trinanzi Auditorium which was concelebrated by Rev Fr Thomas Quadros and Rev. Fr Vincent D’ Souza.  Rev. Fr. Vincent in his homily highlighted the tradition and true meaning of Monti fest, which is coming together and sharing of the entire family.  It was indeed a thrilling experience to the over 1,500 people, packed in the auditorium,  The choir helped the devotees to participate in the mass meaningfully. 

After the mass, delicious traditional roce mixed with blessed paddy which was prepared by our generous ladies, “Lovely friends” was then served to all the devotees.

Rev. Fr Thomas, Rev Fr Vincent and the Carmelite nuns of the parish were then invited on the stage to cut the celebration cake.  They were joined on the stage by Sr. Dr Lydia Fernandes, Vice Provincial Superior of the AC congregation of Karnataka.  As they joined together to cut the celebration cake, the people along with the choir sang happy birthday to mother Mary. Rev. Fr. Thomas in his brief speech stressed the community to imitate the virtues of blessed mother and continue in the spirit of unity and love. He also announced the commencement of an additional Konkani obligation mass on Saturdays at 7.45pm in the Multi purpose hall. This will provide an opportunity to the many Konkani speaking parishioners who cannot attend the Sunday 4.15pm Konkani mass.

A short cultural program followed with, konkani folk songs and a skit titled, “Fudaracho Nirdhaar” written by Stany D’Souza, Paladka and acted out by Stany D’Souza, Alwyn Peris, Sujay Pinto, George Menezes & Nelson Menezes. The artistes provided entertainment to the audience with a strong and occasion-based theme. Hillary Tellis, a coordinator of the Konkani Community carried out the whole program as the Master of Ceremony. Main coordinator, Charles D’ Almeida remembered all the well wishers in his thanks giving speech.

All the costs of the event including refreshments provided during the nine day novenas were covered through support from various well wishers who donated whole heartedly and extended all their support as one family. A raffle draw was held in which prizes donated by well wishers were given away. At the end a pure vegetarian meal catered by the famed Maharaja Restaurant” was served for over 900 people.

• Nativity Fest Around the World : Report & Pictures: Click Here