Goli Soda

By Kieran

 Goli Soda

 


Original artwork and nostalgic poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, inspired by childhood memories of hearing the soda bottles with marble seals being opened to make fresh lime soda


There was one distinctive sound that told us we had entered Goa by road
It was the marble in the fizzy soda bottle pop with no easy way to reload

When full, the pressurized aerated payload held the marble seal secure
The marble seal was tamper proof keeping the contents pristine and pure

There was no need for a bottle opener, one just pressed down on the marble
It popped and out came the soda that was still fizzy, quite simply remarkable

The marble made a distinctive 'plink' as it dropped in the chamber of glass
This ingenious invention called a Codd-neck soda bottle was truly world-class

Comments

Anonymous said…
"The painting is very good also panneer soda is the best" . That was Manian. He was commenting on the Goli Soda painting. He really enjoyed Paneer soda (rose flavored soda in a goli bottle) when he was in India. (WhatsApp comment from a dear neighbor who has a young son called Manian)
February 14, 2026 at 6:08 AM
Kieran said…
Tell Manian, "Thank you". Yes, my classmates from Chennai mentioned it was quite popular when they were young - Kieran
February 14, 2026 at 6:09 AM
Anonymous said…
I so clearly remember these bottles...they were of thick green-tinted glass...in Margao my grandfather used a kind of leather bottle-shaped sheath to pop the marble...I have no clue how it worked...to my child's mind, it seemed magical...I am now guessing that there was something at the bottom (top?) of the sheath to push the marble down and that the sheath itself was meant to protect against the glass shattering...which sometimes did happen! ♥️ (WhatsApp message from a very dear cousin in Bengaluru, India)
February 14, 2026 at 6:10 AM
Kieran said…
Yes, there was a sort of a wooden nub that pushed the marble down - Kieran
February 14, 2026 at 6:10 AM
Anonymous said…
Please tell your friend I had goli soda in Benaulim, Goa thanks to his artwork! That is my daughter having goli soda in Goa. Thanks to our conversation (WhatsApp comment from an XLRI classmate on a chat group)
February 14, 2026 at 6:14 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Stained Glass

By Kieran
Image
  Origin and Significance of Stained Glass Stained glass has ancient roots, but it became especially prominent during the medieval period, particularly in Christian church architecture. The earliest known examples of coloured glass date back to ancient Egypt and Rome used decoratively in windows and mosaics. In the 12th–15th century, stained glass became a hallmark of Gothic cathedrals in Europe, reaching its peak in France, England, and Germany.    Biblical Storytelling: In a largely illiterate society, stained glass windows illustrated scenes from the Bible saints’ lives, and moral lessons, serving as a visual scripture for the masses.    Spiritual Atmosphere: The interplay of light and colour symbolized divine presence, aiming to elevate the worshipper's spirit and represent heavenly light entering sacred space. Stained glass contributed to the aesthetic grandeur of cathedrals like Chartres and Notre Dame.  It influenced architectural design, as Gothic a...
Read more

Pope Leo

By Kieran
Image
  Pope Leo XIV On Thursday, May 8, 2025, the Conclave of 133 Roman Catholic Cardinals elected a new Pope for 1.4 billion faithful, the  267th in the line of Pontiffs that dates back to St Peter, who was handpicked by Jesus Christ himself. [ Matthew 16:18 ] Before he was elected Pope Leo XIV, Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Frost Prevost spent  much of his life outside the United States. Ordained in Rome in 1982 at age 27, he received a doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, also in Rome.  For the past two decades he was a missionary in Chilayco, Peru, serving as a parish priest, seminary teacher, and diocesan official.  Here he also became a naturalized citizen, then rose to lead his international religious community, the Order of St. Augustine. Under Pope Francis, he held one of the most influential Vatican posts, running the office that selects and manages bishops globally. His deep connection to Latin America helped him gain a...
Read more

Cat

By Kieran
Image
Alaskan Cats   Original artwork inspired by the whimsical poem of irrepressible Garrison Keillor Alaskan cats don't take no crap.  They don't sit in no one's lap.  They don't let you brush their fur  Or have cute names like Gulliver.  They mumble but they seldom purr. Alaskan cats are three feet tall.  They drink beer and play pinball.  And you may notice when they call,  They don't wash themselves at all,  Just once in the spring and once in the fall. Alaskan cats are always dressed  In jeans and boots and outdoor vest.  It's not stuffed with eiderdown  But hair from dogs around the town -  Some black, some brown. Once a year to hold off famine  They jump in the boats and they fish for salmon  Slap those big fish with their paws  Catch 'em, bone 'em, and then toss  'Em in a pan with catsup sauce. Alaskan cats chew catnip snoose  And spit about anywhere they choose.  The freest cat you ever sa...
Read more