For nearly 15 years, Stevin Carvalho fondly recalls his aunt, Philomen Fernandes, hosting a gathering of Catholic Mangalorean families in her Werribee backyard to celebrate Monthi Fest, held on September 8 to honour the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus.
“It was open to everyone, and about 100 people would turn up,” Stevin remembers.
Monthi Fest, also known as the Festival of Harvest or the day of ‘New Rice,’ is celebrated similarly to how other Indian communities observe their new year in April.
As more Mangalorean families settled in various suburbs, there was a push to form a larger, more formal organisation for the Mangalorean Catholic community.
In 2012, the Melbourne Konkan Community (MKC) was officially registered. The organisation is led by four core members—the president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer—who make key decisions, supported by ten additional committee members.
“We have our own constitution, which we follow strictly. Today, we have 250 members, although there are about 2,000 Mangalorean families,” says Vincent D’costa, the current president.
Vincent arrived in Australia in 2017 after living in the Middle East for 12 years. His shared heritage quickly drew him into the MKC, and his move to the western suburbs, where many MKC members live, led to even greater involvement. In 2022, he took on the role of sports secretary, further enhancing his contributions.
Despite the challenges posed by COVID, the community remained connected through weekly prayer sessions and special Easter services. They even managed to celebrate Monthi Fest online, with a priest from Alice Springs conducting the service, which was broadcast widely.
MKC organises several events throughout the year, with the number of events growing alongside the influx of Mangaloreans into Melbourne.
“Monthi Fest on September 8 remains our biggest event of the year,” says Stevin, who is the media and publicity officer of MKC. He adds that the community also hosts sports tournaments, including cricket, badminton, and women’s throwball during February and March.
This year, MKC began holding cricket tournaments in collaboration with the Goan community. “The idea is to encourage inter-community dialogue and interaction,” says Vincent. “It will grow stronger in the coming years.”
The badminton event is exclusively for members, with 110 participants at the Altona Badminton Centre this year. “Our cricket tournaments, which include six men’s teams and about four women’s teams, draw over 300 people,” says Stevin. “It’s chaotic, but it’s fun.”
MKC also supports its seniors by organising a seniors’ bowling event every December. They host a Christmas party each year, attracting 200-250 attendees, and an annual picnic featuring delicious Konkani dishes like pork bafat, chicken kori roti, and rice roti.
Every three months, the community holds a Konkani mass. Since regular Konkani masses are rare, this service is a significant event for members.
This year, responding to community demand, MKC introduced a matchmaking event for new immigrants and students arriving in Australia. Many seek partners from their own community, so an event was organised where bachelors could meet and interact. Advertising started in early 2024, with the event held in October.
Now in its 13th year, the Melbourne Konkan Community has achieved notable milestones. What began as a Monthi Fest with 100 attendees has expanded to attract 800 people, with new events and initiatives added each year.
“We also host special events for women, including talks on their well-being. This year’s event was sold out,” says Vincent.
The community’s involvement has grown, with 200 new members joining this year. “We’re dedicated to keeping our culture alive by creating spaces for young people to connect and build a strong community,” adds Stevin.
Looking ahead, MKC aims to focus on engaging youth, recognising them as future leaders. Thanks to a Victorian government grant, they are organising a youth adventure to foster self-connection and community involvement.
MKC encourages all Mangaloreans to participate in their activities—membership is not required to attend.
For people like Stevin and Vincent, who often reminisce about the rains and greenery of their home in India, the Melbourne Konkan Community is a cherished link to their roots.
The Indian Sun acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
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