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The feast of Bonderam is celebrated on the fourth Saturday
of August every year at Divar Island, 12-km from Panjim.
The Legend
The name Bonderam revolves around the involvement of flags which in
itself is an interesting story. Frequent disputes which occurred between
two wards (section of the village) - Piedalda and Sao Mathias - over
property matters often led to bloody duels, and sometimes death.
Subsequently, the Portuguese introduced a system of demarcation of
boundaries with flags of various nations. The rival groups, however,
knocked down the demarcation flags sometimes with stones. Today, in a
parody of the past, this is commemorated with a "Fotash" flight
(toy weapon of bamboo stem) and berries are used as missiles in a mock
fight between rival groups to knock down an offending flag.
On the day, a carnival ambience is created. Each ward of the village has
a float at the parade. Though sponsored by business houses, the floats
have an unmistakable local favour.
The Festivities
On this day, the quiant land of Divar, away from the hustle and bustle of
Panjim, is agog with excitement. Melodious
music drift from the village to mainland Old Goa - once the hub of
Portuguese Goa - even before the crack of dawn on the
Saturday. At noon people begin trickling into the village. By the evening
the trickle is a deluge. An expectant crowd assembles along either side of
the main through fare of the village. The tempo is set by lands and lasses
wielding "fotashes" engaging themselves in mock battles. The
gaily coloured floats accompanied by colourfully dressed youngsters make a
pretty picture. 