Bangalore: St Peter’s Konkani Kutam Celebrates Monti Fest
News and pics: Simon Lasrado
Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Sep 10: St Peter's Konkani Kutam (SPKK) of St Peter's Church in the city celebrated Monti Fest ( Nativity of our Blessed Virgin Mary), at its parish on Tuesday, September 8, with a grand holy mass in Konkani at 8.15 am, to a crowded gathering of devotees.
Fr Praveen Pinto celebrated the Holy Mass. Before the mass, the honouring of the Blessed Mother was held with the children gathering around the statue of our beloved Mother Mary at the entrance of the church. As the choir sang the beautiful Konkani hymn, 'Moriyek hogolshiyam', the children showered beautiful flowers on our dearest ‘Mother Mary’. Fr Praveen held a small prayer service and this was followed by the traditional blessing of the 'novem' (new paddy), after which the Holy Mass began.
After the Mass, Matilda Lasrado gave a small brief about the Konkani Kutam and on the importance of Monti Fest, followed by the vote of thanks, proposed by R J Saldanha, president of SPKK. Breakfast was served along with 'novem', outside the church. In true Mangalorean tradition, sugarcane was also distributed to all those attended the Mass.
The 'novem' was received from Capt Monis through Edwin Lewis of Infant Jesus Church. Flower arrangements were done by Robert Lewis and family. Sugercane was contributed by Simon Lasrado and family, while Kevin, Maureen Colaco and Sheela Fernandes helped out with the decorations. The wonderful choir, which sang with so much enthusiasm throughout the service, was conducted by Joe Vinod Mascarenhas and his dedicated team.
Anthony Monteiro, Sheela D'Souza and Joe Vinod Mascarenhas contributed generously towards the expenses, SPKK said, and expressed its gratitude to all those who contributed and actively took part in the celebration. On the whole, the Monti Fest was celebrated by SPKK, Bangalore, in a very grand and traditional way, with the support of all the members and their relatives.