CANACONA
Hundreds of food enthusiasts thronged the 3rd Ran-Bhaji festival in Canacona, where over 550 dishes made from wild and seasonal vegetables were showcased in an impressive culinary spread on Saturday.
Adding a unique twist, several of these traditional ingredients were creatively blended into non-vegetarian preparations. The enthusiastic response was evident, as most dishes were snapped up within just 30 minutes of the festival’s opening, highlighting its rising popularity.
As many as 182 different groups comprising 139 Self-Help-Groups, 20 Anganwadis and 23 high schools participated in the festival from 9 am to 1 pm. While each participating group presented a minimum of three dishes, many presented between 6-8 unique preparations from 43 different types seasonal wild vegetables grown only during the monsoon.
The IIHM with its Young Chef Olympiad 2025 team also participated in the festival.
Hundreds of visitors followed the chief guests and such was the demand that most dishes were wiped out within half an hour of the opening of the festival. Many dishes were, however, available with the participating groups till the end of the festival.
Some interesting and innovative preparations included Ran-Bhaji Cake, Ran-Bhaji Momos, Ran Bhaji Pulao, while other preparations included Ran-Bhaji cutlets.
Recipes to most dishes were presented at the counters, while details of the health and medical benefits were also explained.
Many counters also kept different types of Ran-Bhaji in raw form for sale at reasonable rates.
Several students from schools, higher secondary schools, and the college of Shri Mallikarjun & Chetan Manju Desai presented live preparations of Ran-Bhaji.
Earlier, Power Minister Sudhin Dhavalikar inaugurated the Ran-Bhaji festival in the presence of BJP State President Damodar Naik, Speaker and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar, Padmashri Awardee Chaitram Pawar, CMC Chairperson Sara Naik Desai. The festival was organised by Shree Balram Charitable Trust in association with Goa Biodiversity Board, Department of Agriculture and Department of Tribal Affairs.
Addressing the gathering, Dhavalikar praised Tawadkar for protecting and preserving Goan heritage and tradition.
A book on Ran-Bhaji published by the Shree Balram Charitable Trust was released later at a function in the Sanjay Bandekar Auditorium.
Ran-Bhaji festival Coordinator Savita Tawadkar also spoke on the occasion, while Art & Culture Director Vivek Naik, Member Secretary of the Goa State Biodiversity Board Dr Pradip Sarmokadam, Chief Conservator of Forests Kamal Nath, Director of Agriculture Sandeep Phaldesai, as well as sarpanchas of Agonda (Nilesh Pagi), Shristhal (Sejal Gaonkar), Khotigao (Vrunda Velip), councillors and panchas were present at the festival.
