Traditional cuisine, music and dance were all part of the 'patoiachem fest' held on August 15, 2022, at the Peaceful Society in Madkai, Goa.
On the occasion of the festival, World Goa Day, Konkani Day and the feast of Our lady of Assumption were also celebrated.
Local chef Anjali showed how 'patoieos' are prepared in Goan homes at a workshop during the festival.
The participants also got a chance to relished this traditional Goan delicacy along with rice, kuddukechi bhaji, choneacho ros, taaikilyachi and methiechi pezz.
Marius Ferandes, known as 'Goencho festakar', curated the festival, along with Dr Gwendolyn De Ornelas.
The parish priest of St John the Baptist Church, Pilerne, Fr Derrick Fernandes and Director, Edmer Barreto, put forth a skit which had traditional music beats in it.
The participants also had a chance to witness live demonstrations by local artisans on how to make brooms, cow dung cakes, stitching of jackfruit leaves, weaving of coconut leaves, etc.
The whole idea of the festival was to bind communities, exchange ideas and revive Goa's traditions and culture, and at the same time empower Goans to showcase their heritage, food, music, culture, etc.
During a live conversation session with Dr Gwendolyn De Ornelas, Marius Fernandes described how he paraded the World Goa Day flag at the St Mathias traditional Bonderam in 2000. He further spoke about how he highlighted the Konkani language to the diaspora using hotmail and, in recent years, with the advent of social media.
The festival ended with the sounds of the traditional 'ghumot', reverberating along with the kottios and local women singing Konkani songs with the Pilerne Theatre Group.
