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Goa food & cultural festival 2026 begins
GOA: Margao lit up on Thursday evening as the Goa Food & Cultural Festival 2026 opened with a riot of flavours, folk rhythms and festival buzz, signalling a renewed push to sell the state beyond its beaches.
Held at the Margao Cricket Club’s Dr Rajendra Prasad Stadium, the three-day festival brings together Goan food traditions, live music and dance, and locally made products—stitched into a single, high-energy celebration aimed at residents and tourists alike.
The festival was inaugurated by tourism minister Rohan A. Khaunte, alongside Digambar Kamat, minister for PWD and captain of ports; Kedar J. Naik, chairman of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation; Ulhas Tuenkar, MLA from Navelim; Damodar Shirodkar, chairperson of the Margao Municipal Council; Kedar Naik, director of tourism; and Kuldeep Arolkar, managing director of GTDC.
Several local food and culture contributors, including Shubham Naik, Nilesh Shirodkar, Harish Deulker, Sudha Kudalkar and Vishwas Chari, were felicitated for their work in keeping Goa’s culinary and artistic traditions alive.
Addressing the gathering, Rohan A. Khaunte said the Margao edition marked the festival’s second outing in the city and underlined Goa’s growing reputation as a food destination. From north to south, he noted, Goa’s kitchens reflect a diversity that allows visitors to taste the world while standing firmly on Goan soil.
Calling Goa a “creative capital” and, informally, a culinary one too, Khaunte said the state’s regenerative tourism model is designed to spread benefits widely. Every stall at the festival, he said, is run by Goans—from self-help groups to homegrown entrepreneurs—while local artists are given a prime stage to perform.
Digambar Kamat pointed to tourism’s role as a key economic driver, arguing that festivals such as this add depth and momentum to Goa’s tourism calendar. Strong visitor interest and high hotel occupancy, he said, underline how cultural events translate directly into economic activity.
For Kedar J. Naik, the festival is also personal. He recalled attending earlier editions at Miramar, noting that the event has long served as a launchpad for self-help groups and folk performers, helping preserve traditions while creating livelihoods.
Ulhas Tuenkar echoed that view, saying the festival’s core purpose is to empower local communities by turning skills—whether culinary or artistic—into income.
The opening night set the tempo with traditional dance by the Kanta Gaude troupe, followed by live performances from Anson, Chelsea & Jeliska Trio, Sonia Shirsat with her band, and LYNX. Food stalls, craft counters and handmade products did brisk business, blurring the line between culture and commerce.
Part of the tourism department’s ‘Goa beyond beaches’ push, the festival runs until January 25, with more music, food and local colour lined up. Goa is not just hosting a party—it is making a point.
eNews
Swiggy sees record orders during India vs New Zealand T20 final
Chicken biryani tops match-day menu as fans order 7,500 times per minute at peak.
MUMBAI: India’s T20 final didn’t just break stumps, it broke Swiggy’s delivery records, proving cricket fans celebrate victories with plates, not just flags. Swiggy, India’s leading on-demand convenience platform, reported a sharp spike in food orders during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final between India and New Zealand. On 8 March 2026, overall orders rose 23.2 per cent year-on-year compared with the same date in 2025, driven by fans turning living rooms into mini stadiums complete with match-day feasts.
Key highlights from the evening:
- Orders during peak match hours (7–10 pm) were 2.1 times higher than pre-match levels.
- The highest order rate hit 7,500 orders per minute at 19:45.
- Chicken biryani reigned supreme as the most-ordered dish, followed by masala dosa, chicken fried rice, garlic breadsticks and paneer butter masala.
While metros such as Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad led volumes, the cricketing fever spread nationwide. Among emerging cities, Thiruvananthapuram, Surat and Rajkot recorded the strongest order growth. Smaller markets including Shillong, Agartala and Port Blair also showed significant appetite, underlining the expanding footprint of quick-commerce food delivery across India.
The surge reflects a growing trend of pairing major sporting events with doorstep delivery, turning big matches into shared, convenient celebrations. In a night where every boundary mattered, Swiggy proved the real MVP might just be the delivery partner who kept the snacks and the vibes flowing without missing a single wicket.
