Kuswar or Kuswad is a set of festive sweets and snacks made and exchanged by Christians of the Konkan region in the Indian subcontinent for the Christmas season or Christmastide. These goodies are major parts of the cuisines of the Goan Catholic community of Goa in the Konkan region, and the Mangalorean Catholic community of Karnataka.[1] There are as many as 22 different ethnic recipes that form this distinct flavour of Christmas celebration in Goa and Mangalore.[2] Kuswad is also made and exchanged by Karwari Catholics of Carnataca and the Kudali Catholics of Sindhudurg, in the Konkan division of Maharashtra.
Koswad, derived from the Indo-Portuguese term consoada, refers to the dinner served on Christmas Eve; it is synonymous with the Christmas spirit of "sharing" for the Bombay East Indian Catholics in their native Maharashtri Konkani dialects. Koswad ranges from kidyos and nevryos, to Christmas cakes, duck roasts, marzipan & other delicacies.[3][4][5]
- ^ MichaelLuu (25-12-2021), KFC, apples as gifts, Kuswar: Unusual Christmas traditions these people swear by. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- ^ Metro Plus Mangalore, Santa, cakes and kuswar[usurped]. [25-11-2006]. The Hindu. Archived from the original[usurped].
- ^ "Peek into the Christmas Kitchen of an East Indian". 16 December 2017.
- ^ "16 Christmas Destinations in India with Unique Customs and Culture! – Orange Wayfarer". 17 December 2018.
- ^ "How the East Indian community, considered Mumbai's original inhabitants, is celebrating Christmas". 25 December 2016.