------------------------------------------------------------------------ August 25, 2009 - Goanet's 15th Anniversary
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Boje I have a Sharp nose. And the senses are even more sharper when there is fish-frying around say homes or restaurants. I can smell it for upto a distance of 300-500 meters. The same applies to ‘Boje’. Boje, I love it and I simply can’t resist the smell or flavour if it freshly done around. Some people may call it bojim and non goans may say ‘Pokodda/e or Kanda Boji’ Even when I was a kid, I was very much fond of ‘Boje’. Gone are the days where fresh hot-hot boje were available at the ‘Tiatr’ venues etc in villages. Now, Tiatr is staged in Hall/auditorium and day time. However, I have noted now, every village market corner, there is at least one ‘Bojekar’ (most are migrant bojekars).. they would also sell Mirchi or mirsango, Kapam, battatwadda (Bhuk-laddu), Samosas etc At Navelim feast too (Last year) I saw one or two Bojekars (see pic). Good Friday: We all spent up to 5 hours at the church starting from 3pm to 8pm. It was really boring, as kids, all we used to look forward was the opening of the black Curtain behind it large life size of Jesus Christ Image with Cross on His shoulder and Our Lady of seven Sorrows. Once that was shown and done, there was another curtain opening but this time just the huge standing Cross with white cloth on it and the Saibinn. Just after 6.30 pm, the local ‘Bojekar’ would start deep frying ‘Boje’. Oh! I could not resist the smell or the urge to eat ‘boje’. But how could I? I have to wait till around 8pm when church services get over. My mother used to give me 25 poixe (Paisa) with strict order saying ‘ put 15 poixe to Jezuk and 10 poixe to Saibinnik’ (trays or money boxes or ‘Fund Petti’ were placed below each image) I asked: ‘give me some more money to buy boje’ She replied: What Boje? Come home straight, we have ‘canji or Pez’ at home (This day being jinzvar or fasting day, all homes did not prepare or cooked the usual ‘Xit-Kodd’ and instead cooked just ‘pez’ enough ‘Pez’ to last for three sessions i.e Pez/Lunch/Dinner. (Usually, on daily basis, we had Pez around 11am followed by Lunch (Xit Coddi) around 2pm and Dinner around 9 pm). Now, I won’t go home without eating ‘boje’ But with no money how could I buy ‘boje;? Idea! Of the 25 poixe, I would now give 10 poixe to Jezu and 5 poixe to Saibinn. Remaining 10 poixe I would buy and eat ‘boje’ and for this, I did not have to wait till the end of the church services as I went straightaway after receiving ‘Cumniao’ as at the end there was always rush and all ‘boje’ got over which disappointed many. Now how much the ‘boje’ were costing at the time? For just one rupee, one could get a big ‘pottolli’ of 50 ‘boje’ as each ‘bozo’ would cost just 2poixe which also means even for 10 poixe you got a small pottolli (paper wrapped) of 5 ‘Boje’ Only, yesterday, I bought ‘boje’ at Margao KTC Bus stand. Each ‘Bozo’ now cost Re.1 (slightly bigger though) I am sure, after reading all the above boring stuff, many of you would now say to me ‘Ho Joe sarko Bozo mure’ Here are my favourite ‘Boje; http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk21/3866221234/sizes/l/ navelim boje/cheurisaum etc http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk15/3043271627/sizes/l/ Note: Bozo is singular of Boje. Like kids of today, we did not get pocket money. Only time we used to make some money when we were sent to the local 'society' (fair price shop) where I remember 2.5kg of sugar was costing Rs.5.38p i.e half kg per head. Also. we walked for upto 3 kms in the funeral procession with the priest (dressed as Alter boys) and we were given 25 poxe by the Pad Vigar. Again during Easter, home or house blessing - house to house, we got 25 poixe end of the day. However, the priest would instead, give us some 'Milk powder' or 'Bod'do' (broken wheat?) which they got in large quantity for distribution for poorer school kids. We had to accept it much against our wishes as prefere poixe to milk etc. joego...@yahoo.co.uk for Goa & NRI related info... http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/GOAN-NRI/ For Goan Video Clips http://youtube.com/joeukgoa In Goa, Dial 1 0 8 For Hospital, Police, Fire etc