The Colourful and Fun-filled Bonderam Festival
Goa is a land of traditions, cultures, and festivals where everyone comes together to foster a sense of community, shared joy, and cultural connection. There are a range of celebrations like Diwali, Shigmo, San Joao, Carnival, Ganesh Chaturthi, and so on, with the recent one being the Bonderam festival. A testament to the rich cultural heritage, the Bonderam Festival held on Divar Island stands out as a unique celebration, offering a glimpse into the region’s history, traditions, and the enduring spirit of its people.
A quick history lesson reveals that when Goa was colonised by the Portuguese, flags (Bandeira) were used to demarcate the various territories which often led to disputes among the island residents. An attempt to protest was made by the villagers as they pulled down those flags and staged mock battles, thereby challenging the colonial authorities. This soon became an annual way to commemorate the massive steps taken to unite the locals. Today, the festival is a joyful celebration of this historical spirit of defiance.
The Story Behind the Festival
Celebrated annually on the fourth Saturday of August, Bonderam has become more than just a festival of flags. It gained recognition across the globe with locals and tourists alike, coming together to celebrate this fun and colourful event in Goa. It is a cultural fete filled with all the wards participating in colourful floats/parades, playing traditional Goan music, and indulging in Goan dances.
Each ward builds elaborate floats that focus on the history, mythology, and culture of Goa. It commences with a colourful flag parade, The festivities begin with a flag parade and fancy dresses, followed by the traditional floats made by the locals that are paraded around the village.
It’s All Fun and Games
There’s a friendly competition amongst the villages where the youth from each village try to outdo one another by planting their village flags in ‘rival’ territories and attempting to knock down flags planted by youth from the other villages. This playful competition can lead to some spirited clashes which are fun and held in good spirits. There is even a reenactment of the mock battles held back in the day, albeit with a twist. There is a spirit of friendly rivalry with everyone joining in the fun, throwing colourful flowers and fruits at each other or playing with toy weapons made of bamboo. This day of festivities is also accompanied by live band performances and the use of traditional instruments like the ghumot with locals and tourists joining along in dance.
The day-long festivities come to an end with people indulging in some delicious Goan preparations like pulao, sannas, and sorpotel along with local sweet dishes like Bebeinca, Dosh, and Dodol.
The island is accessible by government-run ferry rides only, so visits during the festival need to be made accordingly. There are three departure points—Old Goa, Ribandar, and Narao terminal in the Bicholim District—to take a ferry ride to the island with ferries available every few minutes and with an arrival time of no more than 15-30 minutes.
Bonderam is a colourful celebration that beautifully captures the essence of Goa’s inclusive and diverse culture. From its origins as a protest against colonial boundaries to becoming one of Goa’s most beloved festivals, Bonderam offers a fascinating glimpse into the region’s past and present. It is an opportunity to experience the island’s rich history and join in the joyous celebrations.
