Elsa Angel Rose
The Iftar gathering taking place outside the Jama Masjid in Panjim these days has an interesting cross-cultural footnote that many visitors are likely to miss.
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While most of the stall-owners are local Goans, the chefs who rustle up the sizzling kebabs, colourful drinks, soft baida rotis and other mouth-watering morsels on offer are actually a group that has travelled here from Mumbai to set up this street-side feast every evening. Rehan Sheikh, owner of a stall, said, “We have a team of chefs from Mumbai who cook exclusively for Iftar.”
People were seen offering namaz with devotion and then breaking their fast around 6.30 pm. The scene was vibrant with different kinds of food, and their savoury scent filled the air. There were four stalls offering a variety of delicious food and beverage options such as chicken rolls, chicken baida rotis, haleem, chicken tikkas, samosas, seekh kebabs, and desserts like tender coconut pudding, kheer and more. There were
also two stalls selling religious accessories and books.
Sheikh Hussain, a vendor who has set up a stall, said, “The footfall for this year’s Iftar celebrations is comparatively low, since it is coinciding with Lent. People from different communities come here every year, but Lent seems to have kept a section of visitors away.”
Another local vendor, Mohammed Akhtar stated that sales are usually high on the initial and final 10 days of Ramadan. Beverage vendors are expecting an average income of Rs 50,000 by month-end.
The bonhomie at the spot is also drawing in influencers who are looking to capture the sights and sounds of an Iftar feast. Mayola, a food blogger, said, “Although I’m a Goan, it’s my first time here. I’ve tried more than five different non-vegetarian dishes. The Iftar here is amazing, with cleanliness and hygiene being top-notch.”
On the contrary, there are people who
expected a lot more and seemed disappointed by this year’s Iftar food.
An inter-religious Goan couple, Amir and Melitta, said, “This year’s Iftar items did not meet our expectations and in fact, the stuff was better
in the previous years.”
