Monti Fest is one of the major festivals of Goan, Mangalorean Catholic and other Roman Catholic Brahmin communities celebrated on 8 September. It celebrates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and in the Mangalorean Catholic community involves blessing of Novem (new crops).
The festival derives its name from the Monte Mariano Church at Farangipet in South Canara, and was initiated by Joachim Miranda, a Goan Catholic priest at Farangipet in 1763. Though Tippu Sultan destroyed the churches of Canara, he spared Monte Mariano Church in deference to the friendship of his father Hyder Ali with Father Miranda.[1] In certain Goan Christian dialects the festivals name is corrupted to "Moti Fest".[2]
Notes[]
- ↑ John B. Monteiro. "Monti Fest Originated at Farangipet - 240 Years Ago!". Daijiworld Media Pvt Ltd Mangalore. http://www.daijiworld.com/chan/exclusive_arch.asp?ex_id=129. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
- ↑ Merinews (2008-10-09). "Moti Fest, pork sausages and Church of Qatar". Press release. http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=143490. Retrieved 2008-09-14.