With constant destruction of forests and green cover, Goa is losing a lot of it’s traditional plants and trees. Goa’s festekar, Marius Fernandes, in a bid to save what’s left, is organizing a two-day Purumetachem Fest at Caculo Mall this weekend. “We could be the last generation doing the purumet. The old trees are disappearing. We will not have kanta in the future, for example,” he elucidates.
The two day fest on 28 and 29 May will begin from 11 to 9 PM. A speciality of the festival is that it brings local street vendors into mainstream commercial establishments. “All women have been street vendors for generations. This festival takes them from the street to a mall setup. I met some in Miramar, some in Caranzalem. All will display products of the purumet only.”
He personally visited various places to persuade and invite the vendors. “It took us time to invite them as they look at the Mall as an expensive place. It is credit to Caculo Mall to give us the space without any charge,” he says, adding that it is our social responsibility to give back to the public.
The fest will also bring together vendors from the previous fest. The ladies from Madkai and a group from Corlim will display their products. Each festival promotes inclusion as well. “Six stalls will be given to the differently abled community to sell purumet items. Chillies will come from Cola, Canacona,” he said. There will be entertainment programs too.
Speaking about the tradition of purumet, Marius shares, “My mum recalls the purumet that we have now as being part of everyday life. In the 40s and 50s, people had hardly any money. It was an exchange of goods and they started doing it in the rain. In the old days, khare, dry fish was a big thing. You also had dried coconut, nuts, jackfruits, etc.”
So grab your shopping bags, and head to the mall on Saturday. It’s your chance to stock up for the monsoons.
DETAILS
Date: 28, 29 May 2022
Time: 11 t0 9 PM
Where: Caculo Mall, Panjim