Team Goemkarponn
Valpoi: Stressing the health benefits of consuming locally available seasonal produce, Parye MLA Dr. Divya Rane on Sunday said it was necessary for today’s generation to adopt the tradition of using wild vegetables in their daily diet. She was speaking at the ‘Ranbhaji Mahotsav’ (Wild Vegetable Festival) organised at Keri under the joint auspices of the Keri and Keri-Sattari gram panchayats.
Rane said that with changing lifestyles and rising dependence on chemically grown vegetables, it had become crucial to revive the knowledge of local, organic wild vegetables available during the monsoon. “Wild vegetables are not only tasty but also highly beneficial for health. Our ancestors consumed them in a scientific manner, and it is our responsibility to preserve this tradition and pass it on to the next generation,” she said.
A special cooking competition was organised during the festival, where women from various villages of the Parye constituency prepared a variety of nutritious dishes from wild vegetables. Rane suggested that such competitions be held in urban areas like Panaji and that wild vegetables should also find place in children’s school tiffin boxes to promote healthier eating habits and preserve Goan culture.
The festival was inaugurated by lighting a lamp, followed by inspection and tasting of dishes by the MLA. Keri Sarpanch Supriya Gavas, Deputy Sarpanch Usman Syed, Panch members Diksha Gavas, Nandita Gavas, Tanveer Pangam, Sandeep Tate, Shripad Gavas, Biodiversity Management Committee Chairman Nanda Majik and others were present.
Earlier, Sarita Majik compered the programme, the welcome address was delivered by Nanda Majik, and a vote of thanks was proposed by Sandeep Tate.
