NewsKarnataka-Mangalore
Mangalore: Monthi Fest-the Feast of the Nativity of Mary and Harvest Festival is being celebrated with gaiety on September 8, Sunday.
Thousands of faithful flocked churches of their respective parishes early in the morning and offered flowers to the statue of Mother Mary. There were also processions carrying the Bambina of Infant Mary and accompanied by band sets and parishioners young and old, holding flower plates and freshly harvested stalks of paddy and sugarcane.
Special Masses were held in the churches and the paddy stalks and sugarcanes blessed by the Parish Priests and then distributed among the faithful.
At homes, the paddy grains are crushed and mixed with milk or payasam and relished.
Thousands attended the Nativity of Mary celebrations at the St Sebastian Church, Bendore. Fr Antony Serrao, Parish Priest of the church, celebrated the Mass which was concelebrated by Assistant Parish Priests Fr John Baptist, Fr Paul Crasta and Fr Michael Santhumayor.
Processions were taken out from Bendorewell and Nanthur and culminated at St Sebastian Church.