Amid the hustle and bustle of Bandra Fair and the stalls along the steps of Mount Mary Church, it is hard to miss the voice of Thelma Poojary calling out, “Choris Pao, Choris Pao, come get Choris Pao”. Competing with the likes of another shopkeeper screaming “Chana le lo”, Thelma, who is a Chimbai local, does a pretty good job attracting all the East Indians, Goans, and Mangaloreans, among other communities, along with people who love pork and other meat specials, visiting Bandra Fair, this year, after it started on September 8 and is set to conclude on September 15 this Sunday.

Interestingly, the 56-year-old says setting up a stall at Bandra Fair has always been something that she wanted to do as many devotees come to visit Mount Mary Church. The Bandra local explains, “‘It was really my dream to put an East Indian food stall at Bandra Fair. The East Indian Association says it is an East Indian Bandra Fair but there is not one stall from the start to the end that has a stall of the community. So, I said, why should I not have one?’ I put up the stall to continue the tradition of the East Indians, I said I will do it. So, when I came and met Father Michael, he asked me, what stall are you putting up? I said, ‘Food’.” Thelma says there is one other stall at September Garden, which is held on the Mount Carmel Church property. However, her stall happens to be the only East Indian one at the fair in Mount Mary Church.

She adds, “There are so many East Indians who are so good at cooking. I have only just started but they have so many good tips from so many years of experience.” Being an East Indian Koli, Thelma loves to celebrate her heritage with food, and this year is no different. When she is not cooking, Thelma is hosting heritage walks in the neighbourhood to tell more people about the culture of Bandra. 

SEE PHOTOS: Bandra Fair: Must-try food items around Mount Mary’s Basilica