Udupi Aug. 30:  The first day of Novena in preparation for the festival of harvest that coincides with the birthday of Mother Mary began today at Milagres Cathedral of Udupi Diocese after the 8 a.m. mass followed by Novena prayers by Very Rev. Fr. Stany B. Lobo Rector of Milagres Cathedral along with Rev. Fr. Denis Lobo Vocational Director of Pilar Fathers with floral tribute while singing the hymns that are unique to the occasion of Nativity.  Various kinds of lovely and enchanting flowers were offered to Infant Mary with devotion, singing hymns at portico of the Cathedral.  Being Sunday, a large number of children along with parents and parishioners offered flowers to the Infant Mary.

After the 9 days of novena, the Harvest Festival will be celebrated in grand manner on September 8, 2015 with the firgent of the feast late Lazarus D’Souza's family of Kote Road, Kallianpur. During the days of the novena, we prepare for this great solemnity with much devotion. We raise our hearts and minds to the Blessed Virgin Mary, invoking her help and protection in our life.

A series of 9 novenas to the Blessed Virgin Mary on 9 consecutive days preceeding the feast are recited on these days. At the end of the novena on each day, the crowd, mainly children offer flowers in a ceremonious manner to Infant Mary. Sweets are distributed for all the children on novena days. The atmosphere resounds with the traditional hymns of “Sokkad Sangata Mellyam, Sokkad laggin soryan.”

The novena days are in preparation for the Harvest Festival where every day begins with mass with the children and devotees adorning the statue of Our Lady of Nativity with flowers.