Karwar Celebrates Monthi Fest with Fervour and  Devotion 

By Fr Lorens D’Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Karwar

Karwar, Sep 8: As in other parts of the Konkani-speaking coastal parts of the state, the Diocese of Karwar too celebrated Monthi Fest, the birthday of Our Lady on Wednesday September 8 with devotion and fervour. 

The feast Mass was celebrated in all the churches, beginning with the procession wherein people carried flowers and placing them near the specially decorated statue of Maria Bambina. The children showered the statue with flowers while singing the hymn “Moriek Hogolsyam”.

Newly-harvested corn stocks were blessed on the solemn occasion and were distributed among the people. Sweets, cakes, and other eatable were also distributed at the end of the celebration. Some of the parishes distributed sugarcanes.

The nine days of Novenas in preparation was conducted in almost all the parishes of the diocese. Both children and adults thronged the churches with flowers on all the nine days. The theme for this year’s celebration is “The Girl Child”, which highlighted the importance of every girl child born in the world. The celebration of the Monthi feast is an age-old practice in the diocese which has retained its popularity over the years.