Tourism
of Goa
Fairs
& Festivals ::
Christian
Festivals
BonderamThe
feast of Bonderam is celebrated on the fourth Saturday of August every year
at Divar Island, 12-km from Panjim. 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.
On the day of the feast, the quaint
land of Divar, away from the hustle and bustle of Panaji, is agog with
excitement.
Melodious music drifts 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.
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