Lokotsav, which is perhaps one of Goa’s most popular fairs, concluded on Sunday amid great cheer. A noteworthy feature of the show was the beautiful stage which highlighted the message of religious harmony. The stage was designed by son of Goan soil, Hitesh Pankar, and Mumbai-based artist Vishal Pawar lent a hand in setting up the stage at Kala Academy.
Along with various types of textiles, works created from clay, metal, and paintings also drew an appreciating eye. Stalls showcasing traditional Goan arts such as basket-weaving also made their presence felt.
A major attraction of this year’s Lokotsav was the vast diversity it showed in terms of food and art stalls rather than just handicraft. Along with the usual Rajasthani Kachoris, dishes such as misal pav from Maharashtra brought a spicy twist to the festival-not to forget the famous tambda rassa (red curry) and pandhra rassa (white curry) from Kolhapur, which could be enjoyed with a fresh bhakri cooked on the spot. But even as Maharashtra served its spicy dishes, the Northern states of Jharkhand and Rajasthan tempted the visitors with a live counter of Jalebi and a whole range of kulfis in different flavours. Similarly, the traditional dish of litti chokha from Jharkhand also found many patrons. The local Goan delicacies also lured the crowd with the aroma of the traditional shirvolyo, prawns dangar, different types of xacutis, bharille bangde (stuffed mackerel) and much more.
