PANAJI
Traditional occupations that were fading away are in more trouble with the Corona pandemic totally devastating the business this year.
The vendors selling on their make-shift stalls during zatras and feasts could not make their earning as stalls are not permitted this year.
The traditional festive sweet of Goa which is ceremoniously sold during temple and church festivals is equally popular among both, Hindu and Christian communities and a visit to zatra or feast is just incomplete without the purchase of 'khaje'.
As a traditional vocation, many 'khajekar' families, especially in Fatorpa, Quepem, Cuncolim, Savardem-Curchorem, Ponda, Usgao, Marcel, Bicholim, Mapusa, Mayem and Valpoi, the sweet holds importance in festival occasions.
These finger sticks dipped in ginger-jaggery or sugar syrup are coated with sesame seeds to make a simple and yet tasty snack. “Over generations, we have sustained this business but this year business is almost zero,” said Gauns the businessmen who is doing this business as tradition.
Normally, a traditional 'khajekar' family makes 500 kilos of 'khaje' annually to sell across Goa. Their biggest sale takes place during the 15-day stall at Old Goa in November-December put up for the feast of Goencho Saib where people from across the globe visit and take home their khaje.
But this year, there is no sale at all and no 'khajekar' dares take a risk of preparing 'khaje' in this pandemic period.
