Sharjah Goans Celebrate Cajuchem Fest!

This week, the Goans in Sharjah decided that the world simply wasn’t appreciating the mighty cashew enough — so they organized a mini-potluck at Al Majaz Park. The mission? Spread the good word about the cashew fruit — the VIP of Goan summers — and, of course, find another excuse to eat.

Everyone arrived dressed in the vibrant colors of the cashew: red, yellow, orange, and green. Honestly, if you'd passed by without context, you might have thought a fruit salad had exploded all over the park.

The festivities began with a high-energy ice-breaker led by Ms. Cathy Almeida, who challenged everyone to guess famous Goan facts — while simultaneously keeping a balloon in the air. Imagine the chaos: balloons flying, answers flying, people flying... it was basically a Zumba class disguised as a quiz.

Next up was the catwalk, where participants paraded their finest cashew-inspired fashion, complete with props crafted by the ever-talented Victoria Alphonso. Posing like supermodels, the contestants served serious looks — and serious fruit vibes — to the thumping beats provided by the ever-ready Savio Braganza.

Finally, the event climaxed with the real reason everyone showed up — the potluck. Homemade Goan dishes and fruity, non-alcoholic drinks flowed freely as people celebrated the cashew and, let's be honest, their own excellent cooking skills.

All in all, it was a colorful, chaotic, cashew-fueled success — and a proud day for anyone who believes a fruit can unite a community.