Aimed to promote two of the most important ingredients in Goa, the Goa Tourism department is promoting the Coconut and Cashew festival, which will take place from May 21 to 25, 2014 at Campal Grounds in Panjim. The event is positioned to be an annual property which will also showcase 'Goan' lifestyle and culture.
This festival, which is being organized for the first time, will focus on the role that coconut and cashew nut play in Goa. As a part of this the event will feature a wide range of activities like cookery shows, cocktail demos using Feni, music concerts and stalls featuring handicrafts and artifacts that are made using coconut shells and other by-products. Some fun, innovative games like ‘Crack a coconut’ and ‘Roll a coconut’.
Workshops at the festival will reflect the sense of imagination and adventure that Goans take pride in, visitors can sign up for activities like ‘Climb a coconut tree’ workshop, bowling alley with coconuts and boxing rings using coconuts that will clash against each other.
Feni, a local beverage made in Goa using coconut and/or cashew nut, will have special focus during this festival. This beverage has been conferred with the Geographical Indication (GI) status, which means that authentic Feni is only produced in Goa. There will be a demonstration of the Feni distillation process set up, which will allow visitors to get a peek into the making of this beverage.
Guests can also enjoy some Feni cocktails at the bar during the event. To go with the Feni, there will also be a lot of emphasis on showcasing Goan cuisine in its various avatars. The Goan Culinary Club will conduct demos and workshops on different styles of cuisines available in Goa, like Saraswat, Portugese, Christian and Muslim.
Dilip Parulekar, Minister of Tourism, Government of Goa, said, “Coconut and cashew nut are very important for every Goan. We want to showcase its multiple uses to the world. This festival will also offer visitors a glimpse into Goan culture. While this is the first time we are organizing this event, we are optimistic that it will be a huge success and will turn into an annual event.”