The first Historic Zero Waste inclusive and accessible Ostoreachem Fest was held on 22nd May, 2022 at the Peaceful Society, Madkai curated by Marius Fernandes – Goencho Festakar. The festival commenced with the Balcaoancho Gozalli with Kumar Kalanand Mani and Bharati Bandodkar by Senior Journalist Prakash Kamat about the history of the Peaceful Society.
In the year of the National Girl Child 2022, women from across Goa came together from various walks of life in order to exchange ideas and share knowledge. Language Instructor and Fest Co-ordinator Gwenn Gomes documented the event speaking to the local women about their daily lifestyle and coping with issues surrounding women and the Girl Child.
Popular Chef from Porvorim, Irene Dias, held a workshop in preparing Goa’s heritage sweet “donne or pudde”.
Anjali Naik, resident of Madkai demonstrated old skills of making “mollam” weaved coconut leaves. A Human Library was another highlight of the fest. A community kitchen was designed with authentic Goan original cuisine with volunteers cooking khotkhotem, mango sasao, alsande roçe, classic Goan salad, seasonal pickles and desserts.
As a take away gift, Bharati Bandodkar of Peaceful Society gave away curry leaf saplings to the volunteers. The fest wound up with a konkani cultural programme with kottio and ghumots by having fresh organic lemon grass futti chai and pudde.