The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a feast liturgy of the Catholic church and the Orthodox church which commemorates the birth of Mother Mary and is celebrated on September 8.
In the Catholic tradition, the festival is celebrated in many places. The feast of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is traditionally celebrated as Monthi Festh (Feast) and a feast of family by Mangalorean Catholics around the world with religious fervor and gaiety.
As per the farming tradition, the feast of the new harvest coincides with the birthday of Our Lady. In gratitude for a bountiful yield, the new crop is blessed and prayed over.
The members of Shirva Welfare Association Kuwait (SWAK) along with family members met at the premises of Caesars Dakshin Restaurant, Jleeb Shyoukh, Kuwait on Friday September 12 to celebrate Monthi Festh, the birthday of Mother Mary.
A beginning to the celebration was made by Clifford D’Souza with an introductory speech, who highlighted the importance of this harvest festival in accordance with the feast of Nativity of Mother Mary.
The celebration of the day continued with the thanksgiving prayer and a recitation of Rosary led by committee member Regina Serrao.
President Alwyn D’Souza welcomed the guests with a spiritual touch of words describing the importance of the feast and Mother Mary’s significance in life.
A hymn dance dedicated to Mother Mary was performed along with floral sprinkle by Delma Lobo and Astrel Menezes captivating the audience.
Committee member Gretta D’Souza and Felcita Mendonca led the hymn "Sakkad Sangatha Melyan ani Morriyek Hogalsiyan" sung in unison by one and all and simultaneously floral offering was done by kids.
Soon after the floral offerings - Blessed Novem in milk was served to the gathering as per the Mangalorean tradition.
Visiting priest Fr Paul Melwyn D’Souza delivered the wonderful festive message and Mother’s blessings to the gathering. In his speech he praised the continued efforts by SWAK to develop and encourage varied activities towards the social cause.
Fr Noel Vinay Almeida, the parish priest of St Daniel Comboni Parish, Jleeb Al Shuyoukh, Kuwait delivered his festive greetings and wished the SWAK family a happy feast.
In the midst of the celebration, Clifford D'Souza conducted various spot prizes and entertained the gathering by games.
Housie Housie was conducted by Anil Menezes, cultural secretary Robert Mathias and Clevan Fernandes to entertain the attendees.
SWAK launched a new website (www.swakonline.org) with the motive to spread the awareness and day-to-day information on its affairs and activities to update its members and followers. The launching was done with the blessing of Fr Xavier Marian D'Souza, assistant parish priest of Our Lady of Arabia Church, Ahmadi, Kuwait in the honorable presence of Fr Noel Almeida and Fr Paul Melwyn D’Souza.
Musician Adrian Gomes who was also an active committee member of SWAK, presented his newly released audio CD on this occasion which also signified the launch in Kuwait.
An important news conveyed to the guests was that SWAK was planning to come out with a special Christmas New Year edition of Shirva parish magazine Saud Sandesh, in honour of its glorious achievements over the past 20 years making great strides in the field of social developments.
SWAK secretary Doris Lobo proposed the vote of thanks and expressed his gratitude to the committee members, chef and staff members of Caesars Dakshin Restaurant and all those who contributed to the staging of celebration in various forms.
Grace before meal was recited by Fr Noel Vinay Almeida.
The pinnacle of the celebration was the appetizing vegetarian meal prepared by Caesars Dakshin Restaurant which was served in traditional style on banana leaves. The dining of the harvest meal in unison as one family was indeed the essence of the celebration.
The entire proceeding of the feast day celebration was compered impressively by Clifford D’Souza.