The Nunes family hosted Pasku cha Sann / Easter Feast for the small group of East Indians in Brisbane this year. On an unusually warm Brisbane Autumn day, several families came together to celebrate Easter with traditionally cooked food.
What’s an East Indian feast without a hearty (goat) mutton curry? The hosts Swaraze, Namrata and Lance Nunes (Sandor, Vasai) at their home in Goodna, Brisbane.
Australian kids love their gummy lollies (candy), so some Easter-themed ones atop a pear and almond tea cake from popular Brisbane bakery Gerbino’s – makes it the perfect cake for an Easter Sunday’s dessert in this part of the world.
Kheema pattice are a staple in bakeries both in Bombay and Vasai and it’s rare to return home from Sunday mass without a parcel brought home to breakfast with. Shirley Sirvel (Remedy, Vasai) ensured the guests had their fix with two platters of pattice.
Mumbra is a traditionally prepared East Indian rice cake that often incorporates a fruit or a vegetable like cucumbers, tadgolas / ice apples, pumpkins, etc. Celina Silveira (Remedy, Vasai) prepared her batch from rice flour, jaggery and coconut milk.
It’s rare to find a kitchen-shy East Indian male, and the ones in Brisbane especially, are formidable cooks in their own right. For the feast, Charles Inas (Chulna, Vasai) and Orville D’silva (Remedy, Vasai) whipped up beef roast, chicken yakhni pulao, and even nachos (for the kids) between the two of them.
Like many young migrant communities, having elders present for a community event is a rare occurrence, as the older generation is still firmly rooted in their home countries. Feasts where visiting parents are also present are extra special as a result. Maclon and Celina Silveira (Remedy, Vasai) were two of the three elders who graced this Pasku cha Sann with their presence this year.
Sukhala!
Notes about the East Indians in Brisbane
The Australian state of Queensland has a smaller population of East Indians compared to states like Victoria and New South Wales. There is a higher concentration of individuals and families from Vasai compared to those from Mumbai.
Going by the name of Brisbane Vasaikars, this informal group is not limited to those from Vasai alone, but also counts families from Thane and Gorai among its members and is open to everyone from Maharashtra, India who identifies as a moolvaasi / native East Indian. Inter-state migrations result in the group fluctuating in number, with the members currently numbering close to 70 strong and made up of a mix of students, singles, families and temporary residents.
New members are added to the group by word-of-mouth and communication takes places mainly via a WhatsApp group set up to organise various events like potlucks, picnics, catchups, special masses, celebrations, etc., assistance with employment, accommodation, and other help.
East Indian Memory Co. 
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