The Shree Dev Bodgeshwar Temple in Mapusa is decked up ahead of the annual zatra.
MAPUSA
Visitors to the annual Bodgeshwar Zatra in Mapusa will have to forgo the ubiquitous Gobi Manchurian this year, with the temple committee drawing a clear line between fast food and traditional Goan cuisine.
Instead, stalls serving Chicken Xacuti and Omelette will be permitted at the popular fair. Announcing the decision, Shree Dev Bodgeshwar Temple Committee president Adv Vaman Pandit said the move was aimed at preserving local food culture and maintaining the sanctity of the annual festivities.
“This year, we will not permit fast food items such as Gobi Manchurian, Tandoori Chicken or Chicken Lollipops. Only traditional local dishes, including Chicken Xacuti and Omelette, will be allowed at the Bodgeshwar Zatra,” Pandit said.
According to Pandit, the committee wants the Zatra to reflect Goan traditions rather than turn into a generic food fair. “The Zatra has its own cultural identity. We want devotees and visitors to experience local flavours that are part of our tradition,” he added.
This is not the first time Gobi Manchurian has been shown the door at the Bodgeshwar Zatra. Last year, the Mapusa Municipal Council had passed a resolution barring Gobi Manchurian stalls at the fair, citing hygiene concerns. Officials had pointed out that such stalls often operate without basic sanitary precautions, particularly during crowded festivals.
The government has also issued directions in the past that food stalls must obtain prior permission from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before operating at public events.
The Bodgeshwar Zatra fair, held in the open ground in front of the temple, attracts thousands of devotees and entertainment seekers, with constant movement kicking up dust – raising recurring questions about food safety and hygiene.
A local resident who visits the Zatra every year said the decision was a mixed bag.
“Gobi Manchurian is popular, especially with youngsters, but it does feel out of place at a temple Zatra. Traditional food suits the occasion better, provided hygiene is strictly maintained,” he said.
Ironically, some devotees have questioned whether serving Chicken Xacuti and Omelettes in an open, dusty ground will itself pose hygiene challenges. “Whatever food is allowed, cleanliness should be the priority,” a devotee remarked.
The Zatra has not been short of controversy this year. Two giant wheels installed at the fairground were recently sealed by the administration after organisers failed to obtain mandatory safety permits.
With memories of the tragic Birch fire incident still fresh, the state administration has tightened its oversight of public events, leaving little room for lapses.
