Goa the land of scrumptious food, generous people and traditional cultures that go

way back. The serene beaches that give a whole new meaning to rejuvenation. Goa
is the top most destination for tourists hands down. But there is a completely
different side to it. Here in Goa the business industries are advancing and the
infrastructure is getting better.

Though the state is seeing a lot of modern changes there are a few places or a few
people who are still involved in local traditional businesses. Goa a small state amidst
the other vast and sizeable states shouldn’t be underestimated at all. We definitely
have very rich cultures and traditions.

Some of the traditional businesses that still exist in Goa are fishing, farming,
baker(Poder), toddy tapping etc. These businesses are usually passed down from
generation to generation. Hence keeping the secret family recipes alive!
The Goan Baker or rightly known to the Goans as ‘Poder’ is someone who is awaited
everyday for his delicious and steaming hot bread. They come daily in the mornings,
afternoons and the evenings with bread on their bicycles, honking their horns. The
children run to get their ‘pãos’; having it fresh and hot is the best way to savour it!

In Goa when you ask the poder to give you bread, he will ask, which one? Because
Poders have a variety of bread to offer; the soft regular is pão or pav, the flat and
round crisp bread with a slight layer of wheat husk is Poie, crunchy bangles called
Kankna and scissored bread or katriancho pão.

Taste, texture and flavours will definitely vary in Goa as the pão from the north will
be different from the pão in the south. Every village has a bakery where Goans can
get their bread right from the oven. This art of bread making was first brought to us
by the Portuguese, the only difference being they used toddy instead of yeast for the
fermenting process. These breads (pãos) are absolute masterpieces.

This business is vital for Goans in the state as it is an important part of their daily
life. But sadly in the recent years the occupation is on a decline. Dropping demand
for the traditional pão, rising prices, few government incentives is making it hard for
the poders to get by.

The Poders need to be supported in their profession and they also need to be
assisted economically and socially. We cannot let modernization ruin a tradition that
has been a part of Goa for centuries. Poder has after all given us those cherished
childhood memories of eating the pão(bread) with family.