Mangalorean Konkan Christians celebrate Monthi Fest in Chicago

Stany Gerald D'Souza
September 12, 2019

Chicago : The Mangalorean Konkan Christian Association, celebrated its annual unique cultural program of Monthi Fest - 2019 at St Hubert’s Church Hall in Hoffman Estates near Chicago in Illinois, United States of America. This event signifies the pure and simple love and devotion of Mother Mary in accepting the heavenly call and sharing her life towards betterment of the human race.  Traditionally, this event also signifies the unity and nurturance among kith and kin by offering the new crop to the Creator and partake it with family.  This celebration is similar in its concept to Ganesh Chaturthi in India, Onam in Kerala and Thankgiving in USA.  The program was well attended by the Mangalorean Catholics around Illinois and surrounding States.

The program began with a procession of celebrants and children offering flowers to express their love, respect and devotion to the birth of Mother Mary.  With the singing of “Sokkod Sangatha Mellyam” and “Moriyek Hogollsiyam”, children were rejoicing with admiration, joy and respect in offering flowers to Infant Mary.

 The MKCA Vice President, Lancy D’Souza welcomed all the attendees at the program and introduced attendees, who came for the program for the first time.  He thanked all the participants for taking part in MKCA family programs for the past 16 years.  He acknowledges Fr. Mike Scherschel for his support to MKCA.

Fr. Carlos Pereira, blessed the new crop (Novem), which was produced in India and all the participants partook the “Novem in Roce”.  The program compeer Mr. Steven D’Souza, requested all the participants to savor the taste of Mangalorean Snacks and the open bar.

The attendees were excited to participate in games arranged by Roopa Mesquita.   The festive mood was all around the hall and children did exploit the full use of the program by running around and dancing in-and-around the floor.

There was a wonderful Bonanza of Vegetable Menu consisting 9 items  along with  “Sannam” (idli) and dessert “Vorn” for the dinner to relish on.  All this was home prepared by the MKCA family members.  All the attendees were happy and content to have these authentic Mangalorean dishes.

The participants enjoyed taking over the floor and dance till they dropped to the tunes of Konkani, Hindi, Spanish and English songs provided by DJs Damita and Sebastian D’Souza.

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News Network
June 17,2020

Doha: Qatar Indian Social Forum (QISF) once again set an example that no caste, creed, language and religion comes as hurdle for their humanitarian services and helped to perform last rites of Ramesh who committed suicide in Doha-Qatar.

45-year-old Ramesh son of K. Nagan hailing from Panikulam, Thrissur district in Kerala, who was working as a tailor committed suicide in his house at Ruwias in Qatar on 30th May 2020.

On hearing this news, some of his friends in Kearla informed Mr. Shihab who is also from Thrissur and a member of QISF and the same was brought to the notice of QISF humanitarian team head Mr. Abdul Latheef Madikeri and Basheer Ahmed of Tamil Nadu.

Immediately, the QISF team intervened and contacted the family members of the deceased in India and discussed the matter and consequences of sending the body back home to India in this pandemic COVID 19 situation.

Considering the prevailing situation, the family members gave the consent to bury the body in Qatar itself.

QISF team collected the required documents from the family of the deceased and managed to clear all the necessary formalities from the police department, Health Department, Embassy of India and Hamad Medical Corporation.

Finally, the body of the deceased was buried in Qatar on 7th June 2020 and the copies of all the relevant documents have been handed over to the family members.

The family members of the deceased thanked and applauded the leaders and all the members of QISF for their effective and on time humanitarian service rendered even in this pandemic crisis and having no bias.

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Media Release
June 1,2020

Kuwait: Eid is usually a time of family get-togethers and feasts after weeks of dawn-to-dusk fasting. But this year people celebrated at home, with virus fears dampening the holiday spirit and strict restrictions in place.

Kuwait went under full curfew before the start of Ramadan leaving people to practice fasting and Ramadan rituals at home, Even Eid al-Fitr came under full lock-down period.

As situation demanded, IMA Kuwait celebrated the Eid Get-together online via video conferencing tool, All IMA members participated joyfully in Eid Milan online gathering which was scheduled immediately after Eid prayer. Members participated and congratulated each other on the eve of Eid.

The IMA president Shamvel Parviz addressed the gathering and thanked them for joining online for this unique Eid celebration which will be remembered in history. He also advised members to be aware of conditions of neighbors, friends and family and assist them if they need help in this difficult time.

Eid al-Fitr follows weeks of fasting and marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Thousands of Muslims all over Kuwait followed strict guideline and performed Eid prayer at home along with their family.

As a part of social service activities IMA also distributed ration kits before start of Ramadan and during Ramadan for needy people all over Kuwait.

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Media Release
June 24,2020

The Overseas Indian Cultural Congress (OICC), Bahrain, has charted aircrafts to repatriate stranded expatriates to India. 

Boby Parayil, General Secretary, OICC National Committee, Bahrain has thanked all those who supported in this cause.

“The aircrafts were not licensed and were in crisis until the last minute. Finally, Mohammed Mansoor, president of Bahrain chapter of Indian Overseas Congress approached IOC Middle East in charge Dr Arathi Krishna, who helped get permission to operate flight to Kozhikode,” he said in a release. 

All mandatory approvals from the Foreign Ministry of Affairs and other government officials were accomplished by Dr Arathi Krishna. OICC has expressed gratitude to her for her timely support, he said. 

OICC is also grateful to former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy for doing necessary arrangements to get all the approvals for flight landing in Kerala, he added.

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