Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje/Spoorthi Ullal/Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (RJP)
Mangaluru, Sep 8: Churches in city and within Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts brimmed with thousands of faithful on Saturday, September 8 as the feast of Our Lady of Nativity is being celebrated.
The feast, popularly known as Monti Fest in Konkani, is observed after the nine-day Novena.
Kasargod district too observed the feast with devotion.
The feast, marking the birthday of Mother Mary, is celebrated throughout world by Catholics.
St Lawrence Church, Bondel
Rosario Cathedral
St Antony Ashram, Jeppu
Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi
In Mangaluru region, which includes Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasargod districts, Monti Fest has cultural significance. It is a harvest festival for them. The feast food is a variety of vegetarian delicacies from locally grown vegetables. Newly grown rice is part of the food today which is symbolically distributed in churches after blessing.
Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza offered Mass at Rosario Cathedral. Msgn Denis Moras Prabhu, Fr J B Crasta, Fr Rocky Fernandes, Fr Anil Fernandes and Fr Flavian Lobo were present.
Mangalureans spread across the globe celebrate this feast with utmost devotion.
Mangalurean Catholics are known for Marian devotion for centuries.
Watch Monti Fest Video: