Jacqueline Kelly –
The Feast of the Nativity of Mother Mary is popularly referred to in Kerala as “Puthari Perunnal”. Puthari means new harvest and Perunnal means feast. For Christians, it is also considered as the Harvest Feast.
The feast of Mother Mary on September 8, originated in Jerusalem. In the 7th Century in the Byzantine Rite and in Rome, the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary was celebrated this day. Mary is believed to have been born around 20 B.C.
Feast days or Perunnals in many Churches in Kerala are symbolized by processions, fireworks, display of colourful flowers and cultural programmes. Blessed Virgin Mary is considered as the Saint of all agricultural produce.
Also Read: Part I: Churches in India Dedicated to Mother Mary
Saint Mary’s Forane Church, Chalakkudy, Thrissur, Kerala
Saint Mary’s Church is known as the Shrine of the Nativity of Our Lady. This is the only Shrine in India which is known as the Shrine of the Nativity of Our Lady. The Nativity of Our Lady is one of the solemn feasts of the Church and is celebrated with solemnity by following Ettunombu [eight days of lent] for the preparation of the feast.
Under the inspiration of Rev. Fr Thomas Panjikkaran, in October, 2000 a Marian Grotto was built in the Church premises similar to the grotto in Lourdes.
The blessing of this feast is the Pattana Pradheeshanam which shows that this feast is celebrated with great spiritual enthusiasm. Saint Mary’s Forane Church has two major feasts celebrated every year. Mother Mary’s feast and Saint Sebastian’s feast. Both the feasts are celebrated with the participation of large number of people in Chalakkudy town and nearby villages. Mother Mary’s Oottuthirunnaal is also a famous feast when blessed food is given to more than ten thousand people.
Shrine of Our Lady of Health, Khairatabad, Hyderabad
Our Lady of Health Church is the biggest octagonal Church [eight-sided polygon architectural plan] in Asia and was built during the rule of the Nizam of Hyderabad. It is also one of the oldest Roman Catholic Churches in Hyderabad and is dedicated to Mother Mary.
On the Feast Day, [September 8] lakhs of people visit the Shrine to pay their respects to Mother Mary and the feast has been celebrated with much grandeur since1904. The construction of the little Chapel began in 1898. It was rebuilt in May, 1903 and was completed in the same year for the spiritual benefit of the Catholics belonging to the African Cavalier Guards and the Third Infantry.
The Chapel was earlier known as the “The Church of Our Lady of Divine Grace”. Khairtabad Church has been since 1904, a Sacred Shrine of Our Lady of Health and the Parish of Our Lady of Health has been a parent to many parishes after 1972.
Church of Our Lady of Vailankanni, Picnic Garden, Kolkata [Calcutta]
The Church was blessed on the occasion of the Solemnity of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady. [Sept.8]
In 1996, a plot of land for the construction of the Church was purchased. In 2003, fundraising started on the Feast of Our Lady of Vailankanni and in 2005 the land was blessed, the foundation stone was blessed and laid.
Goa
Churches in Goa have been a part of the Goan culture from time immemorial. The Portuguese, who arrived in India in the 15th century played a major role in setting up Christianity. Goa was a colony of the Portuguese for over 450 years.
Most of the Churches in Goa are the finest examples of art and architecture.
Monti Festival – Nativity of Our Lady
In Goa, in the 16th century the Nativity of Our Lady was called Monti Fest. Monti Fest is the most popular and important feast among the Catholics, especially of Karnataka who migrated from Goa to Karnataka from the 16th century for various reasons. These people who migrated from Goa took this festival along with them to Karnataka. In 1510, the Commander of the Portuguese Army, Afonso de Albuquerque ordered a Chapel to be built in honour of Our Lady to thank her for his escape from the Kamaran Island in the Red Sea. Thus in 1513, Capela de Nossa Senhora do Monte [The Chapel of Our Lady of Mount] was built on the hillock in the City of Goa. [Old Goa]
Since, the Church was on the Mount and in Portuguese “Monte” means Mount, that Church was called in Konkani “Monti Saibinnichilgorzz”. The Church of Our Lady of the Mount. This Church has three altars. The main altar was dedicated to Our Lady of the Mount. The side altars were dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua and to Saint Anthony, the Hermit.
As a result of this Church, the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady on September 8, in Goa came to be known as Monti Saibinnichem Fest or Monti Fest.
In Goa, Monti Festival is also known as Fulanchem Festival, Feast of Our Lady of Vailankanni.
In Goa, two Churches are dedicated to Our Lady of the Mount, Old Goa and the other built by the Jesuits in 1590 at Chinchinim which was later dedicated to
Our Lady of Hope.
Our Lady of Hope was also called Nossa Senhora de Esperanca Igreja em Chinchinim in Portuguese.
Monti Saibinn [Our Lady of Mount] is originally a native Konkani word of Goa.
The Catholics in Goa do not combine the Harvest festival with Monti festival. The harvest festival is celebrated in the month of August.
Mangaluru [Mangalore]
In 1526, the Franciscan Friars reached the Canara Coast and built three Churches- Our Lady of Rosary Church, Bolar-Mangalore, Our Lady of Mercies Church, Ullal and Saint Francis of Assisi Church, Farangipet. [Farangipet in Urdu means European and Pete means market/small town].
The Farangipet Friary is situated on a hillock [Monte Mariano] on the northern banks of the river Netravathi, very close to the National Highway approximately 10 kms away from the city of Mangaluru.
The feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is known as Monthichem Fest solemnly celebrated by the Canara Catholics is said to have its origin in Monte Mariano [Mount of Mary], Farangipet.
The Church of Monte Mariano, Farangipet is always counted among the noteworthy places of pilgrimage in the Dioceses of Mangaluru and Udupi.
Monthi Fest celebrated by Catholics in Coastal Karnataka is the Nativity of Our Lady and combined with the Harvest festival [Novem]. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy by all Catholics. It is a family feast.
When their ancestors migrated to Karnataka, there was an assimilation of cultural traits to this festival. During the nine days novena, children search for flowers like golden trumpets, hibiscus, magnolia, marigold, periwinkle and tiger’s claw. After Mass, children come in a procession and sing the most popular song of Mother Mary. “Sokkodd Sangata Mellyam” [ Let us mingle together] and lay one flower at the feet of Baby Mary’s statue referred to as Maria Bambina. This practice later spread to Mumbai and Goa. In Goa, it changed to “Sogllim Sangata Mell’ia” replacing a few original words with the local Konkani words.
Mary is the most distinguished member of the Church. She is not only the model of the Church but also its mother. It is important for Catholics to enter into the faith of the Catholic Church concerning Mary’s role in God’s plan of salvation.