Kuwait: Mangalorean Families in Abbasiya Celebrate Monti Fest with Fanfare

By John V Tauro
Bellevision Media Network

Kuwait, 14 Sep 2013: Mangalorean families living in the suburb of Abbasiya celebrated the feast of Nativity of Mary – Monti Fest in traditional Mangalorien style at Indian Integrated School Auditorium here on Friday September 13 at 6.00pm.

 

Abbasiyans of Kuwait residence celebrated this event in a grand manner for the successive thirteenth year.

 

The little children with flowers gathered at the residence along with their relatives and friends followed the grand procession of Infant Mary statue to the altar of St Comboni church, Abbasiya here.

 

Mangalorean priest Fr Joel D’Souza who arrived here especially for the festal celebration celebrated the Holy Mass along with Abbasiya parish priest Fr Noel D’Almeida, attended by hundreds of faithful.

 

Both Fr Noel and Fr Joel blessed the new paddy-sheaves specially sourced from the field of Ronald Alva along with jasmine flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The little children and faithful have showered flowers singing the Konkani hymn, ‘Sokkad Sangata Melyan, Moriyek Hogolsiyan’ in honor of Infant Mary. The celebration indeed brought back the childhood memories to the elderly gathered at the venue.

 

Fr Joel in his homily explained the significance of the feast of Nativity of Mary and festal celebrations to Mangalorean catholic community as harvest festival. 

 

The up and coming child prodigy staged a Bharatanatyam dance to the melodious hymns in honor of Mother Mary.  The Abbasiya families also staged dances, skits, songs of different languages as part of cultural show.

 

Then, followed the traditional serving of mouth-watering Mangalorean vegetarian food on plantain leaves and also savoring of ‘vorn’ sweet dish.  The men wearing traditional ‘Mundu’ on their gird and shirts served the food in a row that accommodated 160 persons at a time.  The sugarcane especially brought from Mangalore was distributed among the children as per Mangalorean tradition.  The delicacies were prepared by M & M Confectionary with the vegetables and ingredients brought from Mangalore on the occasion. 

 

Over 1,000 people partaken and enjoyed this Unique Abbasiya families traditional Monti Fest. 

 

Monthu Furtado, Norbet D’Souza organized the stage setting and lighting.  Mark D’Souza and Mary Castelino were the Gurkaras of this event.

 

Ronald D’Cunha and Valerian Fernandes led the choir with melodious music.  Deepak Andrade and Adeline Castelino compered the programme.  Ronald Fernandes proposed vote of thanks.

 

It was an indeed a memorable day for all those gathered at the occasion, according to Bellevision Global Media Team.