Mangaluru: The Konkani Catholics in Karavali will be celebrating Mother Mary’s birthday as Monti Fest on September 8th and in preparation to the feast have already begun the 9 day novena and prayers since Thursday, August 30th.

During these 9 days novena, little children take flowers with them to the church daily and dedicate it to the little statue of the infant mother Mary. The statue will be placed in the centre with the children surrounding it in a circle and while singing a hymn shower the flowers on the the statue.

After the novena period, on the 10th day (Sep. 8th) Monti Fest (Nativity of Mary) is celebrated as a community and a family festival. The festival is specially celebrated in Dakshina Kannada, Kasaragod and Udupi diocese and is also one of the major festivals celebrated by the catholic community.