 |
|
 |
||
|
|
||||
|
Designed , developed & Hosted By Kishoo, Barkur |
||||
|
|
||||
|
This page is updated regularly, please refresh or reload on your visit. |
||||
|
Few pleasant extracts from memory – FEAST
OF NATIVITY OF MOTHER MARY -
‘MONTHI-FEST’ Introduction: September was the month, anxiously looked for, with curiosity,
during our childhood days! A month heralding the beginning of pleasant
weather, with less frequent rains, green serene beauty of nature, fresh
water flowing in the nearby rivers and canals; Almost every household
reaping and tasting home grown vegetables and most importantly for us
agriculturists, the paddy fields, with new crop, used to dwindle the
happiness. To celebrate this unique occasion, I feel our ancestors chose
September 8th, Birthday of Mother Mary, popularly known as ‘Monthi
Fest’ with family and friends! In good olden days, our community primarily consist of farmers, and
they used to command high respects and reputation in the Church /
Society, might have conceived the idea of having this feast with pomp
and splendour as ‘Farmer’s Feast’ or ‘Festival of Harvest’. One more reason, since most of us are native Goan converts about 3
– 4 centuries back, had instinct for Hindu celebrations, like Janmastami,
Chaturti or Onam, in the surrounding, almost same time,
might have found, ideal substitute in Mother Mary’s Birthday. Most of our festivals are primarily religion based and few are mega
events with special local flavour, one such celebrated, throughout
Canara, especially by Konkanni Catholics. This feast will be observed as
Kutmachen Feast, and each parish has its unique way, of honouring
blessed virgin! Those were the days and at and around the Barkur Church: Our parish of Barkur has a special history, as to the best of my
knowledge; the procession of a mile long, with showering of flowers by
small totters, to high-school going children is a speciality. After the
preparations of nine days of special prayers called Novena, every
morning, 6.30 am, in front of ‘the statuette of infant Mary’,
donated by yester-years teacher Ms Monica Passanha, and on the
feast day i.e. 8th Sept the same, in a decorated Pallakki,
used to be carried, in the high streets of Barkur town, on strong
shoulders young men, with choir singing Sakkad Sangatha Melyan or
Moryek Hogholsian, was the mark of the peak of public veneration
and something difficult to explain in words! Local brass band lead by Bandina Sheena, with peculiar tones
and melody, or Hosaph, musical group of Five performing at nearby
Christian House, or the fight and struggle to fetch Moto Kobu,
- every scene at the Church still stimulates us, even now. For years together, a family from distant Nilavara, arrange
Noven, the new crop / corn, and reach the specially erected make shift
altar at Mr Mendonca’s house, with arcs of bamboo tree and decorations
and almost all local Schools declaring this day an optional Holiday,
people of the town respectfully standing by the side of roads to see the
scenic scene, reminds me of those great years. During 60s and 70s the
solemn high mass was held first at 7.00a.m. may be to facilitate Nilavara
people, as they have to come by walk, during those years, to reach
Barkur on time with Novem, and thereafter the procession and
blessing of new crop but during Fr.J.N.Lobo’s tenure, he changed the
schedule to welcome present form! Pirjent of the feast, for
years together, Mr Simon D’Souza, walking brisk fully up and down and
youngsters whispering ‘beedi Simavn dhavntha polle’ to each
other, oh each incident is so special and peculiar! Here and there the sound of falling of Trays, if with flowers,
totters crying and the elder children consoling, assistant parish
priest, observing from distance and overseeing the arrangements and
making a note for himself to improve in coming years. I have seen elders, ready with postal envelopes with letters, in the
Church, busy in filling Novem into them and rushing towards the Post
Office, as by 10.30 mail of the day used to be cleared. Such was the
emotional bond, to those, family members, away from home! An unique example of unity and togetherness at Homes: The scenario at homes, female members getting up as early as 4.00
a.m. to prepare 7 or 9 or even 15 different vegetable dishes / courses.
Male members organising alu bhhaji, from the gardens and visiting
neighbouring fishermen for fetching best of the days catch, for noon
lunch, as it is the only item, in the menu, to be otherwise vegetarian
food!! As by 7.00 one has to reach Church and children busy in arranging in
style, variety of flowers in different baskets and trays. Another feature of this feast was, music band of four and one to
carry only coconuts, as many as 10-15, such groups used to perform, to
herald the birth of Mother Mary, already made the beeline! After the service, in the church, another procession holding
sugar-canes in hands, some daring to taste it on their way to back home
and CYM volunteers, carrying as many canes as possible, as a
special compensation, and at home elders waiting us to have a special
prayer with Novem with whole family, even the departed members of
the family will be remembered and also for the well being of members out
on employment. No exaggeration, one of the best-enjoyed feasts during
those days. After sumptuous lunch, - ‘Novem Jevnchen’, on
banana leaves with vornn or pais, also attended by Hindu
friends, tenants and neighbours, normally, there used to be an outing to
a nearby spot. In the evening another group of entertainers with Dhol
and band, in fact it was a festive time not only to Catholics but whole
town / Barkurian society, in a way participating in it. Home away from home celebrations in these years: Now it is almost two decades, like most of you readers, we too are
far away from Barkur and normally choosing December for annual vacation.
But what I consider it a divine providence that here too the Mangalorean
community celebrate this feast on a grand scale. Back at Mumbai, we used
to pay a visit to Bandra Mount Mary basilica, and here in Muscat, our
enthusiastic Mngaloreans organise this feast in similar lines of our
native. Normally host of Konkanni speaking Priests, will be there to
celebrate the Mass, and couple of years back, H.E.the Bishop of
Mangalore, Rt. Rev. Dr. Aloysius P.D’Souza, was the main celebrant!
And Fr. Prashaanth Madtha, Fr.Bernard D’Souza, Fr.Vincent
Montheiro, Fr Dr.William D’Silva, to mention few, who were with us, in
the last few years. What I have noticed in this part of the Gulf Countries, our
Mangaloreans, make it a point to have this feast in a typical style? If
one browses, Daiji Dubai, portals, very home page gives you the
glimpse of various celebrations like, on 6th in Dubai, 7th
in Muscat, and so on in coming weeks. Just before concluding: Among lot of good things, associated to this feast, at our Barkur,
one more point deserve a mention are the services of Vincent DePaul
Society members. Started somewhere in the beginning of 80s, its members
earnestly trying to help economically poor families of the parish under
Mr.Francis Sequeira, with cash and kind, to celebrate this feast! The
‘recipients of these provisions’ in 80’s, today in a position
‘to donate’ to this fund –
is one instance of Mother Mary’s countless blessings!! Over the years, Mother Mary, blessed /
favoured us abundantly, and this Monthi fest, is both an occasion to
express our gratitude and solidarity, for her maternal care. Before concluding, we at BARKUR WEBSITE, wish you and family members
far and near, a happy feast, well in advance! On behalf of Barkur .com and ICYM Ex-Member’s Committee, P.Archibald
Furtado, Muscat, 31st of August 2002. For a series of a very high quality articles covering many subjects, by Mr. Archibald Furtado , go through the archives. Click on the respective subject |
||||
|
Barkur, located in Udupi Taluk, Karnataka, India. 576 210 |
||||
|
Copyright Kishoo, Barkur 2002. |
||||
