Report by : Jerina Lewis
Photographs : Sujay Bendur & Vijay Almeida
Dubai, Sep 14: Dubai’s colossal Konkan Community ardently gathered on the 10th September Friday evening at 8:00 pm in St. Mary’s Church compound to celebrate Monthi Fest, a feast of nativity of Virgin Mary, a unique Mangalorean traditional feast. St. Mary’s Konkan Community [SMKC] organized the grand celebration where an enormous crowd of 4,000+ gathered facing the beautiful altar set in front of church to venerate Mother Mary on this blessed day.
As the Holy Mass in Konkani began with the melodious singing by Konkani Choir, a grand procession commenced with Priests Fr. Basil Vaz, Fr. Michael Cardoz, Fr. Freddy D’Souza, Altar Servers and Lay Ministers.
Rev. Fr. Basil Vaz, guest priest from Bela and the main celebrant of the festive mass narrated an impressive sermon, advising how the people should follow the virtues illustrated in Mother Mary’s life. Fr. Vaz also beautifully described that a good and humble person always remain down-to-earth just like a paddy shoot filled with good grains where as a shoot with empty paddy corns remains straight like a wicked and head strong person.
St. Mary’s Konkani Choir members under the superb direction of Jossy Moras and melodious music by Ketan D’Souza rendered beautiful Hymns throughout the mass and was greatly appreciated by all the attendees.
Once the mass concluded, as per the traditional practice in Mangalore, Fr. Freddy, Spiritual Director of SMKC honoured the generous donors who assisted to organize this event, with the distribution of candles. Then it was the time for the children to show their appreciation to Mother Mary. The vibrant and young children with their flower baskets venerated Mother Mary to the accompaniment of hymns ‘Sokkad Sangatha Melyan” and “Moriyek Hogolsiyan”.
Traditional fellowship ‘Novem Jevan’ was arranged through Dubai’s famous restaurant Jacky Star Restaurant, Guisais. Scrumptious Vegetarian meal and vorn was served to the huge crowd of 2000+.
Eventhough it was one of the peak humid evening of the summer season, the huge congregation of St. Mary’s church braved the heat and assembled in great number to illustrate their devotion to Mother Mary. Volunteers of St. Mary’s Volunteers Sodality under the leadership of Rony D’Cunha, SMKC members and JMJ Prayer Group members ensured the discipline throughout the celebration and worked side by side to make necessary arrangements for the entire evening.
