Monti Fest, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was celebrated by the Konkani-speaking community attached to the Our Lady of Rosary Church, Qatar. The festival, marked worldwide by Mangalorean Catholics and the Konkani-speaking community of the Konkan region, honours Mother Mary’s birth and includes novena prayers, floral tributes by children, and the blessing of new crops called "Novem" to signify the harvest season. It is also a celebration of family, nature’s bounty, and community, traditionally culminating in a vegetarian meal.
In Qatar, Goans, Mangaloreans, and other Konkani-speaking people came together to mark the occasion. The main celebrant was Fr Manohar D’Souza, a Capuchin priest from India, who also preached during the novena. Volunteers distributed New Corn specially brought from Mangalore.
A cultural programme, attended briefly by Bishop Aldo Beraldi, honoured key community leaders for their contributions. Parish Priest Fr Paul Raj’s message was read, while Konkani Speaking Committee President Aloysius D’Souza delivered the welcome address. Luann Gomes proposed the vote of thanks, with Fr Rosario Colaco and Fr Manohar also addressing the gathering.
The three-hour programme showcased talent tracing roots to Goa and Mangalore. Derick team dance performance, consisting of teenagers based in Qatar, set the ball rolling for the cultural program followed by a duet dance performance by Sebestian Mascarenhas and Carol Gonsalves blending both Konkani and Marathi kept the crowd in good humour. Doha Dance squad “ Vijaya dance performance to the song Emily of Wilfy Rebimbus kept the momentum going.
The highlight was the Goan-Mangalorean band Susegad Souq, whose members, with an average age of 15, kept the audience entertained with Konkani, English, Hindi, and Portuguese numbers. Mentored by Goan and Mangalorean musicians based in Qatar, the band performed songs by Goan legends Chris Perry, Lorna Cordeiro, Remo Fernandes, Anthony Mendes, as well as contemporary favourites like Dukota.
Formed only recently, many members of Susegad Souq had debuted during the Sao Joao festival in Qatar and are also part of the Marian English Choir at Our Lady of Rosary Church.
The evening ended on a high note as guests enjoyed the traditional vegetarian meal. The event was compered by Anil D’Souza and Marilyn Carrasco.
