Monti festival celebrated across Dakshina Kannada

Mangaluru: Thousands of Christians from Dakshina Kannada celebrated Monti fest or Nativity of Blessed  Virgin Mary on Wednesday, September 8.

Due to the restrictions owing to COVID-19, the celebrations have been moderate at the churches.

Monti Fest is celebrated after nine days of the Novena, during which kids shower flowers on the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

But this year, following the protocols set by the government, rituals like procession and kids offering flowers were exempted.

Strict social distancing was followed and only a limited number of people were allowed to offer flowers to Mother Mary individually.

The festival celebrates the first crop of the year like other festivals in India.