Media Release
Pics: Sunil Crasto

Doha, Sep 12: If there is one thing that is very much common among all the Mangalurean Catholics spread across the globe, then it should be Monthi Fest. The birthday of Blessed Virgin Mary which is celebrated with blessing of the new corn and family meal is one of the hallmarks of Mangalurean Catholic community. Monthi Fest is the celebration of family bonds, filial relationships and a feast which makes us aware that we are very much part of the nature around us and it brings us closer to Mother Nature.

Mangalore Cricket Club (MCC), the premier forum that unites Mangalureans living in the oil-rich country of Qatar has also been in the forefront of preserving and nourishing culture. It is with this motto and with the intention of enhancing fraternal bonds among the Mangalureans, MCC has been celebrating feast of Nativity every year with the sharing of new corns, the first fruits of the nature through annual Novem Jevann. But what makes this Novem Jevann special is that MCC members and well-wishers come together and prepare food for over 500 people. MCC’s Novem Jevann is today very much part and parcel of annual calendar of every Mangalurean in Qatar.

As has been the custom in the past, MCC celebrated its annual Monthi Fest on at Al Jazeera Academy here on Friday September 11 evening. The evening was special since it was graced by Able Leader of Konkani community Roy Castelino, the president of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy and Fr Anil D’Costa OFM Cap, principle of Trinity School, Udupi who had flown to Qatar to lead Nativity Novenas earlier. They were joined in by Fr Anand Castelino, the spiritual director of Konkani Speaking Community, Qatar.

The celebrations began with introduction by compere of the day Prabha Rego which was followed by prayer by MCC member Jane Pinto. MCC president Norbert Corda then escorted the guests, Roy Castelino, Fr Anil, Fr Anand to the dais, the company of MCC vice-president Prakash Noronha and MCC advisory council member Gerald D’Mello. After the president Norbert Corda had welcomed the gathering, MCC cultural secretary Riana Pinto conducted the felicitation of 13 academic achievers of 10th and 12th Class students who have excelled in academics in the 2014-15 who were honoured by chief guest Roy Castelino. The Academic Achievers were: Shawn D’Souza, Christopher Pinto, Dylan D’Souza, Hazel Tellis of 12th Std, Ashton D’Souza, Rebeca D’Souza, Megan D’Souza, Melroy Crasto, Gishal Cordeiro, Tanya Lobo, Liyan D’Souza, Blacious D’Souza and Cletus D’Souza of 10th Std. Roy Castelino felicitated the students and presented them with memento.

MCC has been spotting and honouring the achievers and those who have rendered yeoman’s service to the society. Going ahead with the tradition MCC honoured William and Anson Sequeira for their service to MCC.

Roy Castelino, the affectionate and able leader of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy was then honoured on the occasion. He was first introduced to the gathering by MCC vice-president Prakash Noronha before being draped with a shawl and presented with a memento by MCC president Norbert Corda.

Acknowledging the honour Roy thanked MCC President Norbert Corda and Executive Committee members for inviting and honouring him. He said, “True to the great Indian spirit which practices “Unity in Diversity” we Konkani speaking people also can identify ourselves in the same league. Konkani is a mother tongue to all the 3 major religions - Hindu, Christian and Muslim, 41 communities, having 5 scripts and numerous dialects, culture and traditions.

"Konkani is a very complex but interesting language. Though its origin and period of existence not very clear. The traits of migration are very clear. Its influence on languages like Bengali, Bhojpuri, Haryanvi, Rajasthani, Gujarati and Marathi shows that the Konkani’s have faced great odds before creating and settling its own space along the Konkan Coast amongst the Dravidian languages. Possibly because of these challenges, the Konkani people are very vibrant and enterprising community. Konkani’s are found all over India and in every nook and corner of the world. They have made their mark and shown their presence in every industrial/knowledge sector - be it banking, education, health, IT, corporate world. They are also not far behind in Government by showing their caliber as bureaucrats, politicians, cine actors, sportspersons, and many other fields, you name it. Konkani’s by nature are very shy, honest and dedicated lot. Though the Konkani’s consist of a very miniscule percentage of the Indian population, they have made a indelible mark of their own in this great nation," he said. He urged the Konkani speaking community of Qatar to teach their children to speak in community so that Konkani can be preserved and passed on to the future generations.

The winners of MCC’s 9th Annual Talent Competitions held in May 2015 were honoured and it was conducted by Mishal Lobo, Joint Cultural Secretary. The prizes were given away by Fr Anand Castelino, Fr Anil D’Costa and Prakash Noronha. The talent competitions included cookery contest, Poster making, Konkani Story Telling, Elocution & Pick-n-speak, Hair Styling, Singing, Fancy Dress and Dance competition.

MCC Throwball team - champions of MCC’s 13th Annual Ladies Throwball Tournament held in October 2014 and MCC Khokho team winners of ICC’s tournament held in February 2015 were felicitated. Della Rego, Membership Secretary conducted this session.

Renowned singer and MCC member Norbert Pereira’s, music album Vol 6 CD “Moga Uthar” was released in Qatar by Roy Castelino. First Konkani short telefilm titled

“Manasa” by Maxim Pereira was released by Norbert Corda.Rib-tickling comedy skits by Savious & team were the special attraction of the evening. Fr Anand and Fr Anil gave their short festive message and then Fr Anil invoked God’s blessings on ‘novem’ prepared with the new corns. The home prepared ‘Roce’ by Vivian D’Souza and his team of volunteers with ‘novem’ was then distributed to one big Mangalurean family gathered for the celebrations..

The stage was then thrown open for some fun games and short cultural program. Main emcee Prabha Rego conducted some funfilled spot games in her fluent Konkani language and did a fabulous job. Short skit and a joke written by by Savious Crasta was presented by himself, Della Rego, Alphonse D’Silva and Joel Pinto and entertained the audience.

Joint Facilitation secretary Winnie Saldanha proposed the vote of thanks.

People then enjoyed sumptuous dinner with 5 vegetable dishes, and delicious vorn prepared by Jossy D’Souza and his team of volunteers. Home prepared sannas were also there.

The evening came to an end with a Bingo game conducted by Harry Correa.

The entire event was beautifully compered by Prabha Rego who managed to keep the audience engaged with her mastery over Konkani.

MCC executive committee members take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers who helped and contributed in different ways to make this program yet another successful one.