Konkani families and community members gathered in Melbourne on 12 September for Karaval Konkans Australia Inc.’s second annual Kutmachen Fest, bringing together faith, music, food and cultural traditions at St Louis de Montfort’s School Hall in Aspendale.
The celebration was attended by Commissioner Sylvia Coombe of the Victorian Multicultural Commission as chief guest and followed a nine-day Novena dedicated to Infant Mary, known as Balok Mori. Families and community groups from across Australia took part in the Novena, with prayers hosted in cities including Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, Newcastle, Adelaide, Launceston, Hobart, Sydney and Canberra.
Children were involved throughout the Novena, offering flowers to Balok Mori in keeping with the Monthi Fest tradition. The organisers said the participation of younger members reflected the role of families in passing Konkani customs and faith traditions between generations.
The main celebration began outdoors with the traditional veneration of Balok Mori and the blessing of the Novem, representing the new harvest. Lester Goveas and his family from Perth provided the first harvest of new grain for the occasion.
A brass band accompanied the procession into the hall, where the statue of Balok Mori was carried beneath the traditional damaskachi sathri. Holy Mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr Jacob Alvares, Spiritual Director of Karaval Konkans Australia Inc.
In his homily, Fr Jacob spoke about the origins and family importance of the celebration, including the role of mothers. The Karaval Konkans Australia Inc. choir, led by Sandria Rodrigues and featuring more than 30 singers, also took part in the Mass.
The blessed Novem was later mixed into Vorn, a traditional payasam, and shared among attendees.
The formal cultural programme opened with Master of Ceremonies Roshan Alphonso welcoming guests. Commissioner Coombe was escorted to the stage by Chairperson Wilson Kalakar D’Souza and President Jane D’Souza, accompanied by the brass band.
Young Yonathan D’Souza presented a Gumott, also known as Ghumot, a traditional percussion instrument associated with Konkani music and celebrations. The instrument had been brought from Mangalore to Melbourne for the event. One ceremonial beat marked the opening of the cultural programme.
In her address, Commissioner Coombe recognised the contributions of multicultural communities to Australian society, including their cultural, financial, political and social contributions through community participation and service.
President Jane D’Souza then welcomed the gathering, followed by an address from committee member and title sponsor Joe Sequeira.
The programme also featured the first performance of the Karaval Konkans Australia Inc. Anthem by children from the community. Written by Maxim Monis, the anthem focuses on the community’s identity, heritage and hopes for the future.
The organisation also introduced Rompi, meaning Sapling, a new youth initiative designed around the idea of nurturing younger generations and maintaining connections with Konkani heritage.
As part of the launch, Commissioner Coombe joined a young child in planting a sapling, reflecting the organisation’s message, “Yah pilge thaun mukla pilgeke”, translated as “From our generation to the next”.
Around 425 people attended the cultural programme, which included songs, dances and performances by community groups. A video presentation of ‘Mojya Kristache Maye’, produced by Blue Angels in collaboration with Karaval Konkans Australia Inc., was also shown.
The event welcomed Australia-che Amig, who is set to represent Australia in India by joining Mandd Sobhann in an official Guinness World Record attempt for the longest non-stop singing marathon.
Organisers also acknowledged the sponsors and supporters who contributed financially and through in-kind assistance.
Food remained an important part of the evening, with Rev. Fr Jacob Alvares blessing the meal before the traditional Konkani call to dine, “Pan, pod ani udak”, was given by Mhalgado Soyro Alwyn Pinto.
The buffet included shiet, randoichi kadi, sonne tendli, sango, bendan, koromb, fish fry, lonchen, vorn and laddu, giving guests an opportunity to share familiar Konkani dishes as part of the cultural celebration.
The evening continued with a game of Housie hosted by Manoj D’Silva before Prajoth D’Sa and his band took to the stage for a programme of Baila music.
D’Sa, a singer, composer and music director whose work has appeared on Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated albums, performed for guests who joined the dance floor as the celebrations continued.
The event closed with the singing of ‘Laudate Dominum’.
Karaval Konkans Australia Inc. said the Kutmachen Fest reflected its ongoing focus on faith, community participation and the preservation of Konkani culture in Australia. The organisation’s youth-focused activities, including the anthem performance and Rompi initiative, placed younger community members at the centre of the celebration.
The event brought together generations through religious observances, traditional food, music and cultural performances, with the message “From our generation to the next” providing a common theme throughout the day.
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