------------------------------------------------------------------------ * G * O * A * N * E * T **** C * L * A * S * S * I * F * I * E * D * S * ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two new showrooms/office spaces, double height (135 sq m each with bath) for lease in upscale Campal/Miramar beach area, Panaji, Goa. Contact: [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MONTHI FESTH The Traditional celebration of Nativity of Mother Mary combined with new harvest is truly an international Festival of Mangalorean Catholics. The Devotion: In coastal Canara region, the nativity feast is preceded by 9 day Novena to Mother Mary. Children collect variety of flowers and gather around the grotto during Novena, concluded by the hymn ”Sakkad sangatha mellyam’ and then offer the flowers they have brought on the statue of Mother Mary, to the tune of the hymn ‘Moriyek hogollsiyam’. The devotion of Mother Mary is a legacy, our ancestors brought with them when they fled Goa as it is mentioned in one of the Gumtam songs, in honour of ‘Ruzai Saibinn’ which says : Goiam sodun aili Mai, Ruzai Saibinn, Mekllya Kesani Mai, devnli somdirak, Devnli Mai sondirak, aili Manglurak, Aili Mai Manglurak, Geli Bollarak, Bollar vadyaanth Mayen thiso tharo kela, Devache vhodde dayen, Asro Amkam dila, Dhaa zonn, bhav-bandhov, ottu melloyam, Ruzai mayeche navim, thempl bhandoyam.. (It appears from this song, they sailed with the statue of ‘Ruzai Saibinn’ when they fled Goa, landed in Mangalore, then in Bolar, Mangalore, erected a church in her honour (The Church of the most Holy Rosary- Rosario Cathedral) The Cathedral now stands in the same place where the Portuguese built their first church after capturing Mangalore on 5th January 1568. The venerable Fr. Joseph Vas played an important role in the history of the Rosario Church in the year 1681. Archbishop Brandao of Goa assigned him to repair the existing Bolar Rosario Church, which was known as the "Factory Church". On the fateful night of Ash Wednesday February 21st 1784 upon Tippu’s cruel orders several thousands of Kanara Christians were lead as captives to Srirangapatnam. During this period Tippu's forces desecrated and destroyed 26 out of the 27 churches in Kanara and Rosario Church was one of them. After return from the captivity, in 1813 the help of various sources rebuilt Rosario church. The British Government contributed Rs.4,000/- towards the building of Rosario Church and Milagres Church in the same place as they formerly stood before1784. The new Milagres Church was built in the year 1811 and the Rosario Church in the year 1813. The Rosario Church was raised to the rank of a Cathedral on 16th April 1850). The custom of Monthi Fest was initiated by Goa Priest, Msgr. Joachim Miranda who was then parish priest of ‘Monthe Mariano’ convent church at Farangipet, after his return from deportation to Malabar during Tipu Sultan’s captivity of Canara Catholics few of whom returned home after the defeat of Tipu in the 4th Mysore war in 1799. Novem: On the Feast day, the new paddy (KHANSHI) that is ready for harvest is blessed at each church and distributed to the congregation. An elaborate all vegetarian dinner is prepared with traditional dishes such as ‘allum-dhento, tovshya karamb, sanna roce, pathrade, varieties of vegetables like ‘alsande, bhende, kuvalo, mogem, vaingem, gullam, thendlim, ghosalim, podvalem, thamdi bhaji, surnn, sonno’ etc. The new paddy is either added to the ‘vorn’ or powdered and added to the milk and ceremoniously sipped by each member of the family at lunch. Traditionally, lunch is served on the plantain leave and eaten by hand. The new paddy is sent by post to family members, dear ones who are working or living away, abroad, and they too celebrate the festival upon receipt of the new paddy. The children are rewarded for the trouble they have taken in gathering flowers to honour the birth of Mother Mary on the day of the feast with sweetmeats like laddoos, or sugarcane to take home and enjoy. Some parishes conduct sports, games for entire families in the afternoon highlighted by ‘tug-o-war’ for men as well as women!. M.D'Mello
