Mangaluru : Catholics in Mangaluru celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Nativity, also known as Monthi Feast the festival of the new corn (harvest) on Tuesday September 8.

The feast marks celebrating the birthday of Mother Mary and is also the Harvest Festival.

Christians flocked the churches early in the morning with flowers to be offered to the grotto of mother Mary. Hymns and prayers marked the day, Special masses were held in the churches under the leadership of the respective parish priests. Fresh stalks of paddy and newly harvested sugarcanes were blessed by the parish priests and given to devotees. Processions carrying the statue of Mother Mary were also taken. The processions were actively participated by Christian brethren.

Before the day of the feast, there was a 9-day novenas offered to Virgin Mary.

The paddy is brought to the Church and is later distributed among all present. The blessed paddy and sugarcanes are then taken home, and the grains are crushed, added to milk, and served to the family members.

The Bishop of Mangaluru Rt.Rev.Aloysius Paul D’Souza  celebrated the mass joined by the four incumbent priests of the cathedral – Vicar  Rev J B Crasta,  and the clergy in Rosario cathedral.