Daijiworld News Network – Doha (GA)

Doha, Sep 9: Come September 8 and the entire Konkani Speaking Community of Qatar will be found within the premises of Holy Rosary Church. It is one of the most awaited days among the Mangalorean expats working and living in the oil-rich country of Qatar. The members of the Konkani Speaking Community come together in unison and celebrate the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Mangaloreans whether in their native or spread across the globe, have a special attachment to Mother Mary and her birthday, popularly known as Monthi Fest. It is one of the most important days in the annual calendar of every Mangalorean Catholic. It is just not the birthday of Blessed Virgin Mary but is the birthday of every Mangalorean Catholic family. Hence Monthi Fest has become a uniting factor to Mangaloreans spread across the world.

The Konkani Speaking Community of Qatar is perhaps one of the most vibrant and devoted communities of the region. The unity and devotion of KSC was on full display as the community joined together and celebrated the Monthi Fest wit Novem Jevann on Monday September 8 here.

The solemn festal mass was celebrated by Fr Rithesh Rodrigues who had specially been flown in from Mangalore for the Monthi Fest. Fr Anand Castelino, the most admired spiritual director of the Konkani Speaking Community was the concelebrant on the occasion.

In his festal homily Fr Rithesh stressed on the importance of family and family life and exhorted the devotees to put in their best efforts in preserving and nourishing family bonds. He also stressed upon the need to respect mother nature by using her gifts judiciously.

“This is also the celebration of womanhood. Every woman is precious and her contribution in uniting family and instilling devotion among the family must be noted. It is therefore our bounden duty to respect every woman and take care of her every moment,” he said.

A well-trained, melodious Mangalroean choir by St Cecelia’s Choir was surely the highlight of the celebration. Francis Quadros and family was the ‘pirjent’ for the Monthi Fest. The new corns brought in from Mangalore were blessed and distributed to the devotees after the mass.

Children and elders gathered around the grotto of Mother Mary and offered flowers rekindling the memories of one’s childhood.

Earlier the ‘pirjent’ as well as sponsors of each day of the novena and those who contributed their mite in making this a meaningful celebration were presented with ‘manachi vaat’. The grand festal celebration came to an end with a pure vegetarian family dinner.

Parish priest Fr Selvaraj joined the celebrations after the eucharist and delivered his message to the Konkani Speaking Community. Benjamin Reberio proposed the vote of thanks.

Earlier nine-day novenas beginning from August 30 were held as preparation to the Nativity. Fr Rithesh Rodrigues took the devotees on a spiritual journey during these nine days with his powerful and touching reflections on the Word of God.