PANAJI
The three-day Cashew Festival, which commenced on Friday and concluded on Sunday evening, drew to a close with an air of festivity and enthusiasm. The festival, spanning three days, witnessed an impressive turnout on its opening day, as crowds flocked to explore the 78 stalls set up for the occasion. Mandated to feature cashew in at least 75% of their offerings, these stalls showcased the versatility of the cashew nut in various delectable forms.
More than just a celebration of the nut, the Cashew Festival serves as a symbol of tradition, culture, and community empowerment. It aims to sustain and promote the rich heritage of Goan cashew cultivation for generations to come.
Positive response
The Goan spoke to some of the stall owners and vendors at the Cashew Fest, capturing their insights and experiences.
Ashutosh, owner of Jambhale Cashews from Tisk Ponda, expressed his thoughts on participating in Cashew Fest 2024 for the first time. Hailing from Usgao Tisk, Ponda, Ashutosh shared details about their cashew processing unit, which specializes in producing plain cashews ranging from W400 to export-quality W150. Additionally, they offer various flavors to entice customers.
Regarding the event, Ashutosh commended the event for promoting Goa’s small-scale products, including cashews. He emphasized the festival’s significance in boosting the rural economy by showcasing products from small producers and farmers. However, he suggested involving more farmers and producers in future editions to ensure the festival’s focus remains on its original motive.
Reflecting on the festival’s response, Ashutosh noted the positive feedback despite encountering challenges like rain interruptions. He highlighted the event’s ability to attract people from rural areas to the capital city, underscoring the importance of continuing such initiatives in the future.
Platform for locals
Cashew Fest’s role in providing a platform for small-scale producers like Jambhale Cashews to showcase their products signifies a step towards promoting State’s local economy on a larger stage. With Ashutosh’s insights, it becomes evident that such festivals play a crucial role in supporting Goa’s agricultural and small-scale industries.
Nihal, representing Rosita Cashew Cocktail brewing, shared his insights on Cashew Fest 2024, highlighting its significance in promoting local brewing companies and businesses in Goa.
Expressing the importance of the festival, Nihal emphasized its instrumental role in supporting Goan culture, particularly regarding feni, a local liquor. He noted that feni’s traditional flavour may not appeal to everyone, especially the younger generation. Thus, Rosita Cashew Cocktail was introduced to offer a more palatable option, aiming to revitalise the feni culture.
Having participated in the festival last year as well, Nihal observed significant growth in this year’s event. He mentioned that the festival had doubled in size, with an increased number of brands showcasing feni-based products. This expansion, according to Nihal, reflects the festival’s positive impact on local entrepreneurs and their ability to introduce new brands.
Regarding the response to their products at the festival, Nihal expressed satisfaction, noting a significant increase in sales compared to the previous year. He described the overall experience as “insane” and expressed a desire for such festivals to occur more frequently, given their positive outcomes for local businesses.
Nihal’s perspective highlights the success and growing popularity of the event in supporting local brewing companies and fostering the revival of traditional Goan culture, particularly in the context of Feni-based products.
Flavours of urrak
Sangeeta, representing Urrak Tales, shared insights about the unique offerings at the event, celebrating indigenous flavours and local products.
Sangeeta expressed enthusiasm for showcasing the diverse play board of urrak, highlighting its versatility and the distinctive tastes it offers. She emphasised the festival’s focus on promoting the local urrak industry and its significance in highlighting State’s cultural heritage.
At the festival, visitors had the opportunity to explore a wide range of urrak-based products, from traditional urrak to innovative flavoured variations. Sangeeta explained that their stall featured a variety of flavours, catering to different preferences and tastes, along with creative combinations to enhance the experience.
Reflecting on their participation in the festival for the first time, Sangeeta described the response as overwhelming, with visitors showing keen interest in trying out different products. She expressed gratitude for the positive feedback received and highlighted the importance of such events in promoting local businesses and preserving traditional practices.
Overall, the event proved to be a successful platform for showcasing the rich flavours of cashew.
