Mangaluru/Udupi: The Nativity of the Mother of Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, (Monthi Fest as it is called in Konkani) is an important feast in the Catholic Calendar of Mangaluru, the coastal districts, and indeed of Catholics around the world.

It brings families together from across the city and sometimes beyond it, for a simple meal of locally grown vegetables (always an odd number – 3,5,7,9) and rice and rice cakes (sannas). It is also the time when the new harvest is blessed in the church and becomes a part of the meal after Mass and family prayer at home.

The celebratory feast mass usually follows a nine-day Novena during which children strew flowers on the image of Infant Mary as the gathering sings Sakkad Sangatha Melyian (let’s all come together). That’s how it should be. But this time with Covid19 breathing down the necks of Devotees and the church, the celebrations were muted.

In Mangaluru, Bishop Dr. Peter Saldanha led the Mass at Rosario Cathedral, while in Udupi Bishop Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo led the Mass at Mother of Sorrows Church. There were safety measures in place as per Government Guidelines with a limited number of devotees allowed inside after a thermal scan and sanitizing their hands.

Children under 10 years and senior citizens above 60 years were not allowed. There was no traditional procession though flowers were offered.

Newskarnataka.com wishes its readers a happy and fulfilling Monthi Fest.