Kathmandu: A week long Goan Zatras Festival will be held at the Himalchuli Restaurant in Soaltee Crowne Plaza from 22 April until 28 April, 2000, in association with Embassy of India and the Government of Goa State of India, and with the support of B.P. Koirala India-Nepal Foundation.

This festival will bring the best of Goan cuisine and culture ever to Kathmandu for the first time and is intended to highlight the potential and prospects of cooperation  between the two favourite tourist destinations in South Asia – Kathmandu and Goa, according to an Indian Embassy statement. The festival has been appropriately named after “Zatras” which are popular Goan village fairs. These Zatras are held all round the year in Goa to celebrate various festivals of both Hindu and Christian origin.

For the festival, master chefs from Goa have been specially flown in to create the culinary magic. The ambiance will be further enhanced by the exotic dances performed by a Goan cultural troupe, the Embassy release said.

Picturesque Goa will be showcased in terms of both food and culture in the Himalchuli restaurant for eight days presenting a wonderful opportunity for Kathmanduites and visitors alike to sample a piece of Goa in the Himalayas. Goa, the ancient Goamanchala of Vedic fame, was under the Portuguese for nearly 451 year until 1961 and the result of this great mix of cultures is today a happy blend of Eastern and Western cultures. The Goan cuisine also reflects the mixing of predominantly Indian way of cooking with Portuguese influence.

The habitat being predominantly coastal, there is naturally a heavy use of sea food and fishes in the dishes. Wowever some of the most famous dishes today, including Pork Vindaloo and Sorpotel, are made out of pork. The original flavour of the Goan dishes are retained through controlled seasoning. l Creative blends of spices and cooking methods bring out the best and create a distinctive Goan cuisine.

Music is a way of life with the Goans. While traditional music still remains strong in the rural areas, the urban areas have taken to more modern music styles and genres. During the Zatras festival, the visiting Goan cultural troupe will be performing some of the well known traditional dances such as Dekhni Ghodemodni Kunbi Khel.  A high level delegation led by the Chief Minister of Goa Francisco Sardinha will be here in Kathmandu from April 24, 2000 to attend the function.

The festival will remain open to public from 22 April until 28 April, 2000 at the Himalchuli Restaurant of Hotel Soaltee.