Daijiworld Media Network - Doha
Doha, Sep 9: The Konkani Speaking Community (KSC) of Our Lady of Rosary Church here celebrated the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, popularly known as Monthi Fest with zest and religious fervor on Tuesday September 8 evening.
The annual Monthi Fest celebration of KSC Qatar, which mostly comprises of Konkani Speaking people from Goa, Mangalore and Mumbai, is one of the most awaited occasions by the large number of devotees. Every year it brings together the entire community as one family partaking in the Eucharist and thereafter sharing ‘novem jevann’. Mangaloreans overseas waited eagerly for the arrival of new corns sent by their family members back home, the situation has changed drastically in the last few years. The Mangaloreans spread across the globe specially in the Middle East today celebrates Monthi Fest traditionally wherever they are in typical Mangalorean style by sharing the new corns and then joining together for ‘novem jevann.’
The solemn festal celebrations were led by Fr Anil D’Costa, OFM Cap, the principle of Trinity School, Peramlly, Udupi. Fr Anand Castelino, the most loved and admired spiritual director of Qatar Konkani Speaking Community was the concelebrant on the occasion. The festal celebrations were preceded by nine-day novenas beginning from August 30 as preparation to the Nativity. Fr Anil took the devotees on a spiritual journey during these nine days with his powerful and touching reflections on the Word of God and role of Mother Mary in one’s life and family.
In his festal homily, Fr Anil stressed upon the importance of family in one’s life and importance of love for a successful family life. “While there are so many virtues that make a family, love is the most important among them. With love comes patience, forgiveness, understanding, forbearance etc which contribute to build and live life of the Holy Family. Unconditional, forgiving and everlasting love is the foundation of family. Anyone can build a house. But turning a house into a home is possible only with unconditional love,” he added.
A melodious Mangalorean Konkani choir by St Cecelia's Choir group was the highlight of the evening. William Aranha and family was the ‘pirjent’ for the KSC Monthi Fest celebrations. New corn was blessed and distributed to the devotees after the Eucharistic celebration. The new corns grown in the fields of Herbert D’Souza were sent to Doha.
Parish priest Fr Selvaraj joined the celebrations after the Eucharist and delivered his message to the Konkani Speaking Community, extended his wishes to the entire community and thanked KSC for all the contribution to the parish.
The ‘pirjent’ and all other donors who made this celebration possible through their contributions were presented with ‘manachi vaat’ before the mass by Fr Anil.
The evening came to an end with the sharing of traditional ‘novem jevann’ which had been arranged by William Aranha and family for the entire gathering.