Monthi Fest - History and Significance

Monthi Fest - History and Significance

Mangalore Today News Network

By Reema Rasquinha

Mangaluru, Sep 08, 2022:  Monthi Fest was celebrated in Kanara and Goa as far back as the 16 th century and continues to this day. Today it is seen as a popular and important feast among the Konkani Catholics especially of Kanara and West coast. On 25th November 1510, Portuguese army commander Alfonso de Albuquerque (1453-1515) conquered Tiswadi from King Adil Shah of Bijapur. Soon after that he ordered a chapel to be built on a hill, in honour of Mother Mary  as thanksgiving for his safe escape from Kamran (an island in the Red Sea). He died later on 16th December 1515, and he was buried in that chapel as per his Wish.  The chapel of ’Our Lady of Mount’ still exists in present-day Old Goa overlooking the Mandovi River.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was a mass conversion of Konkani Hindus to Christianity following the conquest of Tiswadi by the Portuguese. The Jesuit missionaries taught the new converts to offer flowers to honour Our Lady of the Mount (Monti Saibeen) before the feast on September 8. Many of the Catholics from Goa started migrating South to Kanara from the 16th century onwards and continued celebrating the festival in  Kanara (Kasargod to Karwar and inside up to the Western Ghats).  Coastal Kanara  came under the jurisdiction of Goa Archdiocese. The priests from Goa were appointed as parish priests;  Monti Fest celebrations were fostered  by the Goan priests who served in Coastal Kanara.

In 1526 the Portuguese established three churches around Mangalore namely Our Lady of Rosary Church ( forerunner of present day Rosario Cathedral, but was then located opposite the estuary) at Bolar, Our Lady of Mercy Church at Panir, Ullal and the Monte Marianno Church at Farangipet situated atop the hill  on the northern banks of Netravati River. Monte Mariano Church has been regarded as an ancient Catholic denomination, which includes a church, friary, seminary and monastery. A sad fact is that the Monthi Fest celebrations were halted for about 15 years due to a large number of Canara Christians held in captivity by Tippu Sultan at Srirangapatna 1784 -1799. The captives were then released when Tippu was killed by the British on May 4 th ,1799. As per historical estimates, there were  10,000 – 15,000 Konkani captives who survived and headed back to their native lands.

Although Tippu Sultan destroyed many churches of Kanara, he spared the Monte Mariano Church at Farangipet with respect to his father Hyder Ali’s friendship with Fr. Joachim Miranda (a Goan priest) rector of Mote Mariano. He would have been familiar with the ’festh’ celebration in Goa. Thus, Monthi Fest celebrations were reborn at Monte Mariano, Farangipet, Mangalore perhaps in 1799; thanks to the initiative taken by Fr. Joachim MIranda.The Catholic church assigns a date for feasts based on the significant event of a saint’s life. As for the Nativity feast, it is celebrated on 8th of September, which is exactly nine months after the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (December 8 th ). St Anna, mother of Mary, was barren until her old age. The birth of her child (Mary) occurs from her journey from barrenness to first fruit. This could be a rationale behind why the nativity feast is also celebrated as a thanksgiving for the first harvest.

 

 

 

This feast day of Mother Mary is also dedicated to the ‘Girl Child’. Girl children are a blessing as life is procreated into the world through a woman. Every girl child is destined to be a daughter, a mother, a wife, a sister. They are pillars to their families and the society. It is important that we make efforts to protect the dignity of girl children considering the heartbreaking realities that have been prevailing in the society with regards to female infanticide and violence against women. May the Holy Infant Mary be a good model for all of us and especially to girl children. Monthi Fest celebration usually starts 9 days preceding the feast day with novena prayers accompanied with the age-old hymns “Moriyek Hogolsian” and “Sakkad Sangatha Melyaan” to mother Mary. Children take great pride and enthusiasm in offering flowers every day for those 9 days before the feast expressing love to our heavenly Mother.

The feast day itself  is celebrated with great religious fervor and traditional gaiety in all the Churches of this area which are tastefully decorated. September  8 th is celebrated  as a harvest festival in  thanksgiving for the new crops. All the Catholics adults and especially children gather around the statue of Infant  Mary and offer flowers over the statue singing traditional hymns.  Singing of those hymns gives us the same thrilling feeling of joy and familiarity that takes us back to the days of our ancestors’ celebrating in the olden days.

On this solemn occasion, just before the festive Mass in the churches, the first grain which is the first bounty of nature is offered in prayer as an offering to Mother Mary and blessed, to be distributed among families after the Mass. Sugarcane is also distributed in some churches following the ceremony. Back in the homes on that day, it is customary to peel and crush some of the blessed grains and mix it with sweetened milk or coconut milk. This is called ‘novem’, generally distributed by  the eldest member of the house after saying a prayer of thanksgiving for a good harvest and seeking God’s blessings on the family members for the year ahead. The feast day meal consists of an odd number of vegetarian dishes served on banana leaves. The blessed grain is also sent to family members who are away from home. This custom encourages and strengthens family bonding and togetherness. Monthi Fest has great significance to the modern-day world as it brings families together not only in Mangalore but all corners of the world where Konkani Mangalorean Catholics have settled down. May we all strive to promote rich legacy,  history, culture and traditions significantly, to keep them alive.  

Mangalore Today  Wishes all its readers and community a Feast full of joy, blessings & harmony always.

         

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The Author: Reema Rasquinha nee’ Vaz, was born in Mangalore and grew up in Falnir pursuing schooling at St.Mary’s Girls School, graduated in Commerce from St.Agnes College, and Post Graduate studies in Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Fr.Mullers Medical College, Mangalore. She has been living in Sydney, Australia since the past 20 years, with her family of three. Accomplished in Music,  she is keen on Mangalore history, heritage, traditions and culture.

 

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