From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Sep 10: In a unique initiative for celebrating Monti Fest to mark the Nativity of Mother Mary, a commemorative special postal cover was released on the occasion at Kanara Catholic Association’s Konkan Samuday Bhavan in Bengaluru on Sunday, September 9.
The commemorative special postal cover was released by the Dr Charles Lobo, chief post master general, Karnataka circle.
The commemorative special postal cover, sponsored by Valerian Fernandes of Fernandes Road Carriers, comes as a limited edition of 1,000 prints, when the Kanara Catholic Association held its annual general body meeting preceded by a Holy Eucharistic Mass in Konkani with melodious Konkani hymns sung by the choir members.
Monti Fest to mark the birthday of Mother Mary is a special and symbolic event and tradition for Mangalurean Catholics.
Mangalurean Catholics, in whichever parts of the world they work and reside, have made it a part of their cultural tradition to celebrate the Nativity Feast of Mother Mary, which is popularly known as Monti Fest, over the years.
Children and adults alike take part in the religious celebrations and offer floral tributes to Mother Mary and also observe the occasion as a family get-together when the paddy new corn is blessed and consumed along with vegetarian dishes as part of the harvest activity.
The commemorative special postal cover is truly special as it has a picture of children with flowers and if one notices, the stamp has been cancelled by a symbolic picture of the paddy corns.
The reverse of the commemorative special postal cover has a narration of the Monti Fest in English and Hindi and the ‘novem’ meal on a banana leaf.
The narration in English reads as: “Every year, on 8th September, Mangalorean Catholics world over celebrate the nativity of Mary, mother of Jesus. The festival originated in Mangaluru in 1763 is known as Monti Fest. Children bring flower to worship Mother Mary. New paddy (novem) is blessed and eaten on this day. This is also celebrated as harvest festival. This is an integral part of the cultural heritage of Mangaluru.’’
This philatelic commemorative special postal cover is a collector’s item and would be on display permanently in the postal philately gallery in Bengaluru.
The commemorative special postal cover was released in the presence of Marjorie Texeira, president of the Kanara Catholic Association, Bengaluru and other executive committee members at its annual general body meeting.