CANACONA: While there were hardly any visitors to the stalls selling dried fish at the Purumentachem fest both at Old Market, Margao and Sanguem, Goans have surprisingly been making a beeline to neighbouring Karwar to procure dried fish.
Traditionally, Goans who do not get their staple fish during the monsoons, used to purchase dried fish in May to be consumed during the monsoons and that is why the feasts got nicknamed Purumentachem fest.
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May 26, which was the last Sunday of the month, saw a large number of Goans flocking to the Karwar market with the sole aim of purchasing dried fish available in plenty there. In fact, nearly 70 per cent of the purchasers at Karwar were from Goa.
“There is a better choice in Karwar as there are more varieties of dried fish available here than Goa and the prices are also cheaper here,” said a purchaser from Goa.
Incidentally, while earlier only people from Canacona would visit the Karwar market, at present people from Quepem and even Margao can be seen there.
“Visitors here are never disappointed as all types of dried fish ranging from small burrante to big kingfish which are also properly trimmed are available,” said Mohandas Lolienkar, another visitor from Goa.
Besides, he pointed out that while in Goa one cannot get fish for less than Rs 100, in Karwar it can be purchased even for Rs 20 suiting one’s palate and pocket.
“The vendors also guide us how to cook the fish to make it really tasty during the monsoons,” he said.
