Monti Fest celebrated with fervour in twin districts

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Sept 8, 2024: Devotees across the coastal districts of Mangaluru and Udupi celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Nativity, or commonly known as Monthi Fest, with devotion on Sunday, September 8.

The Konkani-speaking Catholic community members observe September as “Thene Habba” or harvest festival every year. It is also an occasion marked by a thanksgiving mass for blessing a good harvest.

The feast, which commemorates the birth of Mother Mary, follows the nine-day Novena and holds cultural significance as a harvest festival for Catholics.

Special vegetarian delicacies prepared from locally grown vegetables were part of the festive meal, and newly harvested rice was symbolically blessed and distributed in the churches.

Nine days before the main feast, people attend the nine days novena. Prior to the commencement of mass, the first corn from the field is brought to the Altar in a procession, which is blessed by the priest. Bunches of newly-harvested paddy stalks are blessed in the church and a sheaf is carried home by every Catholic.