Goa: Bonderam Festival

Bonderam festival is celebrated on Goa’s Divar island, 12km from Panjim, on the fourth Saturday of August, which falls this year on the 27th. A brass band and a parade, festooned with multi-coloured flags marks the beginning of the festival. Other events include fancy dress competitions, a traditional float parade and performances by famous music bands of Goa. The fest is held in remembrance of an old land dispute between separate clans that originated in the Portuguese era. At the time, multi-coloured flags were used to demarcate the boundaries, and bring an end to the dispute. To cement this peace, this festival was propagated.