Sweet Celebration

Diwali is more than just sharing light. It is also a way to sweeten the bond between families of newlyweds.

- Pantaleao Fernandes

Diwali is here! Everyone, irrespective of their religion, is happy because a festival of lights is universal. The triumph of light over darkness is desired by all.

This feel-good emotion is expressed through greetings, and relationships are renewed and enhanced with the gift of sweets. The families of newlywed brides use this opportunity to sweeten their bond with the grooms’ families with the gift of the Diwalechem Vojem. 

Radhabai Parab from Marcel is a traditional sweet maker. She explains, “According to tradition, when a newly married bride celebrates Diwali for the first time at her in-law’s house, her family creates a special vojem packed with a variety of Goan sweets, sugarcane, towels and soaps.”

Radhabai is flooded with orders for the Diwalechem Vojem and works efficiently to honour them. It is fascinating to watch her and her team in action. She sits on a stool while her soonbai Supriya squats on a patt, both patting lumps of bundis (flour beads) into lovely round ladoos.