PANAJI
The Goa Belgaum Expo 2025, ongoing at the BPS Sports Club in Margao, has received a better-than-expected response from Madgaonkars. The exhibition, housed under one roof, is offering all sorts of products, and the locals are thanking Prudent Media Network for organising it at the right time and providing so much choice.
A customer from Navelim, who visited with her teenage daughter, was happy to find a good selection of one-gram gold jewellery at reasonable prices. “My daughter likes to wear jewellery on festive occasions, but wearing real gold is risky these days. The one-gram gold jewellery can be safely worn, and hence I bought a set of bangles, a necklace, and earrings from the stall set up by Anjum Muzavar for the Haldi Kumkum ceremony,” she stated.
Pradnya and Richa Lotlikar from Aadi Silk Sarees and Kidswear have traditional ethnic dresses as well as various types of sarees. Varsha Naik of the Ahilya Saree stall has Banarasi silk sarees available at reasonable prices.
Chaya Borkar is optimistic that all her paddy torans will sell easily, as this auspicious door hanging is in demand during festive occasions. “Many prefer to tie it to welcome guests during the Haldi Kumkum ceremony, birthdays, marriages, or engagements,” explained Chaya, who quotes the prices as Rs 300, Rs 500, and Rs 800, depending on the size.
The DRDA stalls, four in total, have a variety of creative artworks, ranging from cloth bags made from recycled material, nightwear, decorative items, handicrafts, Kunbi designer bags, jute bags, handwoven baskets, wall hangings, seed pens, pouches, and many other products made by women’s self-help groups. Rupa Shirodkar, Sharon Rodrigues, Bhumi Meatri, and Priyanka Prasad Naik from the DRDA stalls provide detailed explanations of the products on display.
Prabhudesai Electronics is offering all sorts of electrical and electronic equipment – from air conditioners to home theatres and other appliances. An easy instalment facility with finance from Bajaj Finserv and HDFC Bank is also available, along with free delivery across Goa.
As many are opting for e-vehicles for personal and commercial use, the stall displaying electric bikes is offering sales as well as services, along with chargers, spare parts, batteries, and inverters. The multi-brand electric scooters mini showroom at the expo is receiving a good response from enthusiastic youth.
Sanya Shaikh’s home shop is offering a grand festive sale on Tupperware and also has an exchange offer. “Bring old Tupperware, even bottle caps, and take new ones with up to 50% off,” she offers.
Magic Lock is another stall attracting curious visitors. Explaining how cooking gas leakage can lead to major accidents, Prajyot Gaonkar introduces a new LPG gas safety device, claiming it is India’s first reliable, innovative, and affordable magic lock gas safety device. Available at various prices, the device comes as a single unit or with other associated mechanisms, ranging from Rs 250, Rs 700, Rs 1499, and Rs 2500.
Vidhya Shirsat’s Jaya Ladies Fashion offers kurtas, kurta-pant sets, and ladies’ tops, while Taniya Bishnoi has artificial jewellery, cosmetics, and apparel. Shruti Keni’s uniquely designed handmade jewellery, ‘Zeva,’ attracted all women’s attention. Krupa Hair Tonic offered a tiny sample bottle of their hair oil, which boasts a 100% natural formula.
Adding a healthy touch to your day, Siddhu at the Panchamrutha fortified rice stall explains the benefits of fortification to those who ask for details. “Fortification is the process of supplying the essential micronutrients the human body needs, such as iron, zinc, folic acid, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, and B12, and other minerals,” he says, adding, “It improves haemoglobin levels, fights anaemia, builds a robust immune system, strengthens metabolism, boosts energy, provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and reduces cholesterol levels in the body.”
The food stalls set up at various corners of the expo seem to be the most popular stops. With outlets in Panaji, Margao, Mapusa, and Ponda, Bhingi’s Food and Caterers served authentic and traditional Goan cuisine. Panaji’s popular Cafe Mira is offering a novel menu at their counter, serving palak pata chaat, pav bhaji, ross omelette, bun maska, tea/filter coffee, keema pav, and shikanji, all at very reasonable prices starting from Rs 50. Hotel Grande Delmon’s counter displayed their outdoor catering menu, including ghee roast with poie (paneer, chicken, prawns), Kerala pepper fry (mushroom, mutton, chicken), Malvani sukha (chicken, prawns), peri peri (bhindi, paneer), chicken chaptata, and chicken biryani.
Amit Dethe’s live chaat stall, ‘Datta Bhel,’ attracted a lot of attention during tea time, and even Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, along with Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar, was seen enjoying the chaat at this counter soon after the inauguration. The mouth-watering menu included pani puri, shev puri, Datta bhel, dahi puri, tokari chaat, papadi chaat, Mumbai shev puri, and American shev puri. While masala chai cost Rs 20 a cup, the different chaats were priced between Rs 60 and Rs 100. Gobi Manchurian from Baljeet Kitchen, namkeen by Amit Mishra, along with chooran and ice gola cola stalls, also adorned the expo. Ahmed Payam of Afghan Crunchy Dry Fruits was seen offering his varieties for tasting to every passing customer.
Overall, the exhibition, on its first and second days, saw a good number of visitors. With Saturday being the last day of the expo and also the weekend, the vendors are expecting more customers, proving that Prudent Media Network has successfully brought renowned business establishments from Goa and Belagavi under one roof in Margao.
