‘Ranbhaji’ festival in Canacona on Sept 2

Goemkarponn deskCANACONA: If you want to see and taste around 210 different ‘Ranbhajiyam’ (Forest/Wild Vegetables) not normally available in markets, keep the day -Saturday (2nd September 2023) free to visit Canacona KTC Bus-Stand @ Chaudi.This is the day when the rich and invaluable different varieties of ‘Ranbhaji (Forest Vegetables) will be exhibited in raw, and also cooked Ranbhaji will be available for consumption the visitors.Addressing a press meeting, Canacona MLA and GLA Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar asked city dwellers to use organic food and make it a habit to consume forest vegetables to maintain better health standards. Tawadkar addressed the media on the upcoming ‘Ranbhaji Utsav(Forest vegetable festival) on Saturday in coordination with all the village Biodiversity Management Committees of Canacona, stated around 225 different items prepared from over 42 types of Forest/Wild Vegetables which are considered to have high medicinal value and rich in fibre, protein and vitamins (literarily available only during monsoon) will be made available for the visitors taste brought on a single platform, invited people to visit the ‘Ranbhaji Utsava’ to be filled at KTC Bus-Stand complex vicinity at Chaudi between 9.00 hrs to 2 Pm on coming Saturday (2nd Sept 2023).‘Erstwhile, villagers used to survive and live healthy by consuming this invaluable forest vegetable, is now forgotten by the villagers, whereas with awareness, city dwellers though eager to consume organic food find it difficult to find forest vegetables. People don’t get it, and that’s the reason we are trying to bring out a concept, where people get forest vegetables,(collection and marketing).The Ranbhaji festival will have 225 types of prepared dishes from the available 42 types of Forest vegetables will be available for the people at the festival. Interestingly, we are trying to document each of these vegetables prepared in different dishes by the various 75 groups participating in the festival. It will also explain the medicinal values, proteins and vitamins consumers get from these prepared dishes of respective forest vegetables.‘We are also trying to explore how these forest vegetables will reach out to the people living in cities, and we are working out on a year-long concept for the same. In future, this type of Mahotsav will be held at the end of July or the beginning of August every year.Members of 39 Self Help Groups, Anganwadi Teachers and Workers from 20 of the accepted 20 out of over 80 Anganwadis, besides the students from 17 Educational Institutions including high schools and Higher-Secondary Schools and the College will participate in the day festival.The organizers will pay a remuneration of Rs.5000/- to every group consisting of 2 members each, besides cash prizes of Rs.10,000/-, Rs. 7000/- and Rs. 5000/- for the best 1st, 2nd and 3rd places winners and two Consolation Prizes of Rs.2000/- will be given away.Inaugurating the Ranbhaji Festival, Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar will also be accompanied by Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral, Kadamba Transport Corporation Chairman Ulhas Tuemkar, Goa State Biodiversity Board Member Secretary Pradeep Sarmukadom, Canacona Municipal Council Chairperson Ramakant Naikgaunkar and others.Also present for the press meet were Shristhal BMC Chairman Vinay Tubki, member Shirish Pai, Speakers OSD/ZAO-Nagesh Komarpant and Poinguinim BMC Chairman Subhash Mahale.