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| #Google image# Published on Gomantak Times on Weekender 24 may 2015 |
The festive season has began in Goa. Many feasts are lined up, which are soon going to be celebrated in Goa. And it's quite obvious, when talking about the Goan feasts definitely the fair or fery'(in konkani) has to come into the picture. Its the most popular aspect of every Goan festivals.
The fair is a small spread of various stalls around the place, selling various items like miniatures, souvenirs, handicrafts, garments, sweets, food and drinks. It's been a traditional practice, that's been carried out over several years even before the Portuguese captured Goa.
Similarly a feast is said to be incomplete without the 'festachem khajem' (feast sweets) . The traditional khajemkars who sell khajem, kaddio-boddio, laddus, capam, halwa and grams. Which are made out of Besan, jaggery, maida, sugar and ghee. are often sighted at the feast. Without these sweets , people often consider their visit to the fair as an incomplete one . Therefore the traders of these eatables are traditionally known to make brisk business by urging the people to buy some sweets in memory of the feast.
Festive Eats
I am sure everyone must have enjoyed eating the red and white long sugar sticks made out sugar, jaggery and ghee called ‘Kaddio boddio’. Which got its name due to its thin and long shape. They are bundled up well and kept for selling at the stalls. The small kids find it fascinating and are often attracted towards it.It’s nice to munch these sweet sticks in free time.
The very health conscious people shouldn't feel left out in this fair of all sweetness, as the khajemkars even have something stored for you'll as well. The plain ‘Kaddio-boddio’ which are brown in color have less amount of sugar in them.
In the same stall at the corner you would spot a huge plate of orange halwa, which gets finished in few minutes as the elders enjoy eating it the most. Because they find it easy to chew, unlike Kaddio- boddio, which are hard and difficult to bite.
And finally comes the ‘Festache Chone’(grams) the very famous 'chone', which can be scrunched down easily. There are some traders of ‘Chone’ who prepare it hot right at the fair and serve it to the people. These local delicacies of Goa add to the festive. I am sure everyone who attends a Goan feast definitely goes home with a small 'potli' of Khajem.
Something that suprises me about these sweets is its long lasting capacity,which makes it possible to send it to far relatives and friends without it getting spoilt. These sweets are made of homemade items which makes it last for maximum 15 days without any preservatives. That's what makes them tasty and yummilicious.
The legend
No matter what even if it's a small chapel feast or a cross feast, you would definitely spot these khajemkar with their stalls. You may often have wondered, how do they manage to be present for every occasion ? That's very simply, it's because they keep their eyes glued on to the calendar and mark the important feasts. These sellers hail from different parts of Goa like Divar, Sanguem, Sanvordem, Bicholim etc. They prepare well for the feast and set out of their homes. And there they are right at the venue, before any other vendor could be present .
Many of these sellers have been following their age old family tradition, while some of them have recently got into the business. Over the generations this business, has been passed on from their forefather to the sons and even to the grandsons. Not only the man of the family but even the daughters are into this business . Sweet sellers consider this activity of selling sweets as a service to god. And offer a share of their profit to the church, as a thanksgiving. This traditional practices add to make the celebration a grand one.
