Rons Bantwal

Mumbai, Sep 17: Monthi Fest was celebrated at St Louis Church, Dahisar on September 11 symbolizing a precise blend of solemnity, devotion, unity, joy and merriment. All Konkani families of the parish got together to celebrate the feast.

The celebration commenced in the morning with the blessing of the new harvest followed by a procession led by the young children to the St Louis Church singing the traditional hymn ‘Sakadd sangata mellyam’. The Holy Mass was celebrated by guest priest Fr Pritam Menezes CSC, and parish priest Fr Ronald Fernandes as the co-celebrant for the feast Mass.

The Mass was followed by a cultural programme wherein parishioners of all age groups came together and actively participated in a variety of skits, dances and songs. There were around 300 devotees present for the feast who cherished every moment of the celebration as this event reminded everyone of their good old days in Mangaluru.

Every year, the ‘Monthi Saibinnichem Fest’ is organised by the members of the Konkani association of St Louis Church, Dahisar. As always, it was held in a very grand and traditional way, with the support of all the members and their families. At the end of the cultural programme, Fr Pritam Menezes CSC initiated the grace and blessed the scrumptious food (Novem Jevonn) which was served on the banana leaf ‘sirothi’, consisting of various vegetable dishes. This beautiful celebration was concluded by singing ‘laudate’.