Mangaluru: Monti fest, the feast of Our Lady of Nativity celebrated in Dakshina Kannada on Wednesday, September 8.

The strict safety measures were followed in churches according to government’s guidelines. Only a limited number of devotees were allowed inside the churches, social distancing was followed and wearing mask was mandatory.

Monti Fest is celebrated after nine days of the Novena, during which kids shower flowers on the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

But this year, following the protocols set by the government, rituals like procession and kids offering flowers were exempted.

Strict social distancing was followed and only a limited number of people were allowed to offer flowers to Mother Mary individually.

The festival celebrates the first crop of the year like other festivals in India. Newly grown rice is part of the feast which is symbolically distributed in churches after blessing.