Evelyn Siqueira
After Easter, the season of feasts begins for Goa’s Catholic community.
The feast of Jezu Nazare in Siridao, better known as Pejechem Fest, is the first feast in Tiswadi taluka.
It is celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter at the Jesus of Nazareth Chapel, in Siridao. This year, the feast day is on Sunday, April 16, 2023.
A popular tradition on the feast day is that of consuming pez. Also called canji/kanji in Konkani, pez is a rice gruel, traditionally made from local boiled rice (ukkde tandul).
The pez is cooked in huge andeo (gigantic copper vessels) and distributed to devotees, free of cost. These are provided by the Dempo family, who are one of the landowners of the village.
Some devotees make vows (locally known as angvonn) to consume this blessed pez if their prayers are answered.
Generous helpings of pickle are served along with the pez for those who aren't particularly fond of its bland flavour.
Another accompaniment is korom, freshly cut raw mangoes, which are in season at this time of the year in Goa.