Canara Konkani Association Borivli (C.K.A.B. a registered Association, having over 1050 members) celebrates annually the traditional festival of Novem (new harvested corn) that usually celebrated for centuries by Konkan Christian farmers, Dakshina Kannada and peripheral parishes and all catholic households back in the districts of coastal Karnataka, as new - crop harvest festival on the very beautiful feast of ‘Nativity of Mary’ called as Monti fest in our Mangalore, Udupi, Kundapura, Puttoor, Coorg, etc.

MONTI fest is celebrated this time here in our Borivli, Mumbai with full gear Pomp and Fervour on Sunday the 11th September. Freshly harvested new corns from paddy fields here, were placed near the feet of statue of our infant Mary, that surrounded by fresh flowers; were blessed in the I.C. quadrangle in front of the I.C. church, at 5.45 p.m. by the chief guest priest Fr. Nelson Pais from Urwa parish of Mangalore, guest priest Fr. Lancy D’Silva the P.P. of St. Louis parish, Dahisar, Mumbai and our I.C. asst. parish priest Fr. Joel Pinto. Mama Mary was honourned with showers of flowers and gayans like ‘Sokkud sangatha melyan, …. Moryek hogolsiyan’; while bringing the statue in procession to the foot of the Alter in the I.C. church. High Mass was concelebrated by the priest-trio. “Let our blessed mother Mary be the role model to our mothers and daughters in our families by being humble and by life of purity”; preached the guest priest Fr. Nelson, from the pulpit.

At 8.00 p.m. a beautiful Konkani cultural programme comprised with dances, Konkani songs, comedy and fun skits, was staged in the St. Francis Engineering premises, that located near the I.C. Church Mount Poinsur, Mumbai. In addition to the mass celebrant- priest-trio, the I.C. asst. priest Fr. Melroy joined us for this celebration. Thrill and surprise was generated by the perfectly sung full old timer Konkani song ‘Anjaa sarke chedu’ by our guest priest Fr. Lancy, in its aput Konkani. “Let us not feel shy and get belittled to learn and speak our mother tongue”, came the suggestion from Fr. Joel’s address. ‘Not to allow our mother tongue Konkani, our beautiful traditions and culture to die’ was the driving message came from all the speakers. The Guest priests were honourned by the Chairman Mr. Albert W. D’Souza of C.K.A.B., with flower-bouquets. The stage performing dancers, musicians, singers, comedians and artists were appreciated and honoured by the CKAB Vice Chairman Mr. George D’Souza with a small present each. Our members non other than the I.C. Konkani choir-master Mr. Charles D’Cunha and Mrs. Veronica Noronha of Dahisar parish, were the main planners and leaders for the programme.

Fellowship meal to savour the blessed New Corn (called novemn jeunchemn) by the partaking Konkani lovers was the last stroke of the Fest day. The Canara Konkani Association likes to place on record its heart felt thanks to our I.C. parish priest Fr. Barthol and also the guest priests. A Very BIG thank also to Brother Melcheor and other Franciscan Brothers of Mount Poinsur, Borivli; for their premises and overall punch of support that extended constantly by them to our Konkani Community activities.