Akshaya Kerkar is a young food influencer currently based in Porvorim. A native of Keri village in Ponda, Akshaya has been making waves in the online world with her food blog “Oo Shejaanni Goa ”. Akshaya’s passion for food and love for capturing its beauty through her camera have led her to create an online platform that celebrates the rich culinary heritage of Goa.
Growing up, Akshaya always knew that she wanted to pursue a career in a creative field. She had a strong desire to become a facilitator and help people learn and grow. After completing her Bachelor’s in Education, she became a facilitator, teaching at a school for the past 7 years.
During the lockdown, when everyone was stuck at home, Akshaya started cooking a lot and sharing pictures of the food she made on social media. As her pictures gained more and more attention, she decided to create a separate platform for them. She wanted to showcase the unique flavours and cultural significance of Goan cuisine. Thus, “Oo Shejaanni Goa” was born.
The name “Oo Shejaanni” is inspired by the way Goan women call out to their female neighbors. Akshaya wanted her blog to capture the essence of Goan cuisine and culture, bringing it to the forefront for everyone to appreciate. Her page features a range of Goan dishes from traditional fish curries to sweet dishes like Tilaanche Laadoo and Tavsali, a Goan style cucumber cake.
Akshaya’s parents and friends have been a great source of support throughout her journey as a food influencer. While she hasn’t collaborated with any famous influencers yet, she has big plans for her brand and sees it reaching great heights in the future.
However, being an influencer comes with its own set of challenges. Balancing her responsibilities as a facilitator while pursuing her passion for food can be a daunting task. Additionally, the fluctuations in the Instagram algorithm can make it hard for influencers to reach their audience, making the reliability of social media questionable.
Despite these challenges, Akshaya remains committed to her passion for food and showcasing the beauty of Goan cuisine and culture through her blog. She draws inspiration from her parents, who have been her role models since day one, teaching her how to go about life and be a good individual and citizen.
Akshaya encourages all Goan youngsters to preserve their cultural heritage and focus on being good individuals and citizens of India rather than merely collecting degrees or materialistic properties. She believes that being self-reliant and self-equipped is another essential aspect that Goan youngsters should consider.
In conclusion, Akshaya D. Gad Kerkar’s journey as a food influencer is a testament to the power of pursuing one’s passion. Her love for food and her desire to showcase the unique flavours and cultural significance of Goan cuisine have made her a role model for many young Goans. Through her blog, she hopes to inspire others to appreciate and preserve their cultural heritage while also pursuing their dreams.
