Udupi: First of Nine days Novena of Infant Mary (Monthi Mai) in preparation for the Monthi Fest to be celebrated on 8th September 2016 was held at Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur here on Tuesday, 30th August, 2016.

Children are like flowers and they have a passion for flowers that are filled with various colors and beautiful like children and so wonderful, while they please our Infant Mother Mary when these kids with love, excitement and devotion come to offer early in the morning despite of slight showers of rain.

It is an opportunity for the young children to gather flowers from the gardens and offer them to Infant Mother Mary during the Nine days of Novena prayers and showering flowers is a magical moment for each child as well as elders also.

After the mass at 6.30 a.m., the mass was concelebrated by Rev Fr. Stany Lobo along with Rev Fr. Prakash Anil Castelino, Rev Fr. Rollwin Aranha and Rev Fr. of Pilar Fathers.

Children as well as the faithful happily singing hymn “Moriye Hogalsiyam” and offered beautiful flowers. Record numbers of faithful were present on the very first day of Novena for the Infant Mary with large number of children like Sunday masses. As usual, sweets and stationery were distributed to the enthusiastic children at large.