PANAJI
Christmas in Goa is usually all about abundance -- platters of roast meats, trays of golden sweets, and kitchens buzzing with coconut rich curries. But this year, shoppers are discovering that the festive cheer comes with a heavier price tag.
Walk through local markets across Goa and it's the same refrain: meat and poultry prices have jumped. Broiler chicken is up nearly 20% compared to last December, while pork and beef are edging higher, largely owing to transport costs and often due to traders' opportunism.
For families who pride themselves on hearty roasts and spicy curries, that means either smaller portions or swapping in cheaper cuts.
Eggs, the backbone of both savory dishes and sweets, are the real shocker this year.
Retail prices hover around Rs 100 per dozen. 'Ganvti' (organic) ones, which many prefer using, are nearly double the price at Rs 200-plus per dozen.
Vendors meanwhile are warning that the prices could climb even higher as demand peaks in the final days to Christmas.
And then there’s the humble coconut -- the quiet star of Goan cooking and Christmas sweets.
From rich gravies to the creamy fillings of 'neureos', coconut is everywhere. This season, however, prices have spiked. A single coconut that used to cost Rs 25“30 last year is now over Rs 50, depending on quality and size.
For households that need dozens to prepare sweets and Christmas day cooking, that’s a serious dent in the budget. Many shoppers joke that coconuts are turning into “luxury items,” but behind the humor is genuine worry about stretching festive menus.
Christmas sweets are where the pinch really hurts. Classics like kulkuls, doce, dodol and the iconic bebinca rely on eggs, sugar, flour, and yes, plenty of coconut. All these ingredients are pricier this year and home bakers are either raising the cost of their boxes or cutting back on production.
Middle class families are adapting in small but telling ways. Some are pooling resources with nuclear families joining hands among blood relations, and others are simply buying less.
