Monti Fest
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''Monti Fest'' is a major Catholic festival held on 8 September every year by the Latin Christian community of Konkani people, originating in the Konkan region of
India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
, and their descendants in the
Canara Kanara, also known as Karavali is the historically significant stretch of land situated by the southwestern coast of India, alongside the Arabian Sea in the present-day Indian state of Karnataka. The region comprises three civil districts, ...
region of
south India South India, also known as Dakshina Bharata or Peninsular India, consists of the peninsular southern part of India. It encompasses the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, as well as the union territ ...
. This festival celebrates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and in the Mangalorean Catholic community involves blessing of ''Novem'' (new crops). In certain Goan Catholic dialects the festival's name is corrupted to "''Moti Fest''". According to the Konkani scholar, Pratap Naik, the festival derives its name from the '' Capela de Nossa Senhora do Monte'' (
Portuguese Portuguese may refer to: * anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal ** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods ** Portuguese language, a Romance language *** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language ** Portu ...
for "Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount") in
Old Goa Old Goa ( Konkani: ; pt, Velha Goa, translation='Old Goa') is a historical site and city situated on the southern banks of the River Mandovi, within the Tiswadi ''taluka'' (''Ilhas'') of North Goa district, in the Indian state of Goa. Th ...
. The chapel was constructed in 1519 on a hillock commanding a view of the
Mandovi River The Mahadayi/Mandovi River (''Mandovi'', pronounced ), also known as Mahadayi or Mhadei river, is described as the lifeline of the Indian state of Goa. The Mandovi and the Zuari are the two primary rivers in the state of Goa. Mandovi joins wi ...
on the orders of
Afonso de Albuquerque Afonso de Albuquerque, 1st Duke of Goa (; – 16 December 1515) was a Portuguese general, admiral, and statesman. He served as viceroy of Portuguese India from 1509 to 1515, during which he expanded Portuguese influence across the Indian Ocean ...
in honour of Our Lady. The feast day on 8 September, called ''Monti Saibinichem Fest'' (Konkani for "Feast of the Lady of the Mount"), instituted in the sixteenth century and continues to this day. Since, flowers and garlands are an integral part of the celebration, the Konkani epithet ''Fulanchem Fest'' (Feast of flowers). The Bandra Fest celebrated by the
Bombay East Indian The East Indians, also called East Indian Catholics or Bombay East Indians, are an ethno-religious Indian Christian community native to the Seven Islands of Bombay and the neighbouring Mumbai Metropolitan Area of the Konkan Division. Hist ...
community, is a similar grand affair celebrated annually and coincides with ''Monti Fest''. Naik observes the following: According to the Hindu calendar after
Shravan Shravana Kumara () is a character mentioned in the ancient Hindu text ''Ramayana.'' He is best known for his filial piety towards his parents. He was killed accidentally by Prince Dasharatha. Life Shravana Kumara's parents, Shantanu and Gyanva ...
month,
Bhadrapad Bhadra or Bhadrapada or Bhādo or Bhadraba (Bengali language, Bengali: ভাদ্র ''bhādro''; ) (Hindi: भादों ''bhādo''; )(Sanskrit: भाद्रपद ''bhādrapada'';) ( ne, भाद्र ''Bhādra'';) ( or, ଭାଦ୍ ...
month commences. On the fourth day of this month comes Ganesh Chaturthi. For this feast all members of the Konkani Hindu family gather and celebrate from one-and-half to ten days. During this festive period
Ganpati Ganesha ( sa, गणेश, ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in Ganapatya sect. His image is found throughout India. Hindu d ...
's idol is installed in the house and flowers are offered to it daily. On one day during this festive period new corn is ceremoniously partaken. The Christianisation of Goa led to the mass conversion of Hindus from Ilhas de Goa (
Tiswadi Tiswadi ( pt, Ilhas de Goa, lit=Islands of Goa, or simply ''Ilhas'') is a sub-district in the district of North Goa, situated in the Indian coastal state of Goa. It is the largest and populous island of Goa situated in the basin of the Zua ...
) and Jesuits taught the new converts to give
votive offerings A votive offering or votive deposit is one or more objects displayed or deposited, without the intention of recovery or use, in a sacred place for religious purposes. Such items are a feature of modern and ancient societies and are generally ...
of flowers to honour of ''Monti Saibinn'' (Lady of the Mount) instead. Thus, the Nativity feast which is celebrated by most Christians all over the world on 8 September, came to be called ''Monti Saibinichem Fest'' (Lady of the Mount Feast) for Konkani speaking Christians.
Shaivite Shaivism (; sa, शैवसम्प्रदायः, Śaivasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the Supreme Being. One of the largest Hindu denominations, it incorporates many sub-traditions rangin ...
Konkani-speaking converts of those days celebrated the festival associated with
Gowri Habba Gowri Habba is a Hindu festival celebrated a day before Ganesh Chaturthi in Karnataka. This festival celebrates the goddess Gowri or Gauri, (also known as Parvati) who is venerated as the mother of Ganesha. It is usually observed by married w ...
and Ganesh Chaturthi. Thanks to the initiative taken by Joachim Miranda, Monti Fest celebrations were renewed at Monte Mariano Church,
Farangipet Farangipet or Farangipete is a locality in Mangalore city, Karnataka, India. The ancient, first church, Monte Mariano Church, is located in Farangipet. It also has a temple and mosque nearby. Farangipet is a fast-growing town and it is between ...
, Mangalore in 1799, after a 15-year-long intermission due to the Captivity of Mangalorean Catholics at Seringapatam which ended with the
Siege of Seringapatam (1799) A siege is a military blockade of a city, or fortress, with the intent of conquering by attrition, or a well-prepared assault. This derives from la, sedere, lit=to sit. Siege warfare is a form of constant, low-intensity conflict characterize ...
. Miranda was a Goan posted in Mangalore at the time, and would have been familiar with the festal celebration in Goa. Thus, Goa is said to be the original host of ''Monti Fest''. Though
Tippu Sultan Tipu Sultan (born Sultan Fateh Ali Sahab Tipu, 1 December 1751 – 4 May 1799), also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore based in South India. He was a pioneer of rocket artillery.Dalrymple, p. 243 He i ...
destroyed the churches, seminaries and convents of Canara, he spared the Monte Mariano Church at Farangipet in deference to the friendship of his father
Hyder Ali Hyder Ali ( حیدر علی, ''Haidarālī''; 1720 – 7 December 1782) was the Sultan and ''de facto'' ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India. Born as Hyder Ali, he distinguished himself as a soldier, eventually drawing the at ...
with Miranda.


Notes

{{Goan Catholics Patronal festivals in India September observances Marian feast days