Daijiworld Magazine, Vol.12, Issue 4, September 2020

12
DAIJIWORLD Magazine | September 2020
a rare delight - were some of the
little pleasures we enjoyed as children.We
all looked forward to the
recital of the rosary around the
altar before the Mass. Children’s
names would be randomly called
out to lead the Rosary and each of
us prayed that our name would
be called. Finally, along with the
familiar tunes of age-old Konkani
hymns ‘Moriyek Hogolsian' and
‘Sokkad Sangatha Melyan,’ the
flowers would be offered to Mother
Mary and we would head home
swinging our empty plates and
baskets now filled with sweets.
Doing complete justice to the
name ‘Kutmachem Festh’, (Family’s
feast) by which the locals loved
calling it, the entire family traditionally
gathered together with
great enthusiasm. The final day
of the novena called for a grand
celebration. While the ladies got
busy in the kitchen preparing the
odd numbered vegetarian lunch
and the traditional sweet ‘Vorn’ or
‘Roce’. The men would help with
the chopping of vegetables. Finally,
everyone in the house would
deck up in the best of their traditional
attire and gather for the
“Festh Mees” (The Holy Mass at
the church).
The church would be decorated
with lights and candles and an
impressive band would be playing
alongside the choir singing traditional
Konkani hymns. The new
corn (Novem) blessed by the priest
during the Mass would be distributed
to each family member.
For the final day children would
have an extra flower in their
neatly adorned plates to offer to
the picturesque statue of “Bam-
Origin and propagation
of Monti fest celebration
Origin of celebration: There
is evidence that around 55
A.C. the celebration of the feast
of Mother Mary started in Byzantium,
an ancient Greek city in
classical antiquity that became
known as Constantinople in later
years and is now called Istanbul.
There are other instances in
places like Rome (around 475 -700
A.C.) as reflected in a papal book,
Liber Ponthi Pikalis according to
which Pope Sergio gave a clarion
call to celebrate the feast of Mother
Mary at St Mary Mayor Basilica
after taking a procession prior
to a ceremonial Holy Mass.
As per historical records,
there is evidence that the celebration
started in Spain (In 7th century)
followed by England (8th
century) In the 9th century the
practice of celebrating the feast
as an obligatory day was commenced.
It was in the 13th century
the tradition spread to other
countries under the auspices of
the Holy Catholic Church.
In India – Within India, the
Portuguese who ruled many parts
of India started this celebration
under the banner of ‘Mounti Festival’
(Mary on the Mount) Later
the celebration spread to other
Coastal regions of India such as
Karnataka and Kerala, wherein
the name ‘Mounti’ became ‘Monti’.
This festival coincides with
other Hindu festivals such as
Krishnastami/Nagara
Panchami,
Ganesh Chaturthi (Chowthi)
wherein they are celebrated as
part of Harvest Festival and newly
prepared eatables are consumed
on the day.
As per the records, Fr Joachim
Miranda who was serving in
Gangoli Church (1759 – 1762) was
transferred to Farangipet Church
in Bantwal near Mangalore. Here