Declare ‘Monti Fest’ a public holiday in DK, Udupi demand Christians

Team Udayavani, Jul 12, 2018, 11:17 AM IST

Mangaluru: The Catholic Sabha Mangaluru Pradesh is demanding the government to declare a public holiday on ‘Monti Fest’ or the ‘Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary’ feast celebrated on September 8^th.

‘Monti Fest’ is the only family feast among Konkani Christians living along the coastal belt and is being celebrated with fervour since many centuries. Only, Christian educational institutions give holiday on the feast day, while others don’t, hence Christian leaders have been demanding a public holiday since several years.

According to the members of Catholic Sabha, the feast is considered as important as Christmas and Easter by the Konkani Christain community in the undivided Dakshina Kannada district. However, there are Christians working in the non-catholic and government institutions where the feast day is considered a working day, unlike in Christian institutions where a holiday is declared on the feast day. Since there are a majority of Christians in D.K and Udupi district, we are requesting the government to declare a public holiday for the feast for the two districts.  

It can be noted that Kodagu declares a holiday on Huthari, a harvest festival there and the same should be extended to the ‘Monti Fest’ in the undivided D.K. district demand the Christians here.