It's A Party: Head To This Secret Goan Island To Celebrate The Bonderam Festival

The Bonderam Festival that typically happens on the fourth Saturday of August every year, is when this sleepy village comes alive to celebrate an old tradition that is exclusive to this island only in Goa. There is a story behind this festival involving the Portuguese, the local villagers, flags & shooting, so head over there to find out more about it.

The festival usually kicks off around 3pm, with a procession of a brass band, children and adults dressed in different costumes, taking part in a fancy-dress competitions and a parade of floats. Once the parade is over, the live band and the DJ take turns in playing music and the whole street turns into one big dance party. There are various food stalls serving tasty local fare, or you could hit up one of the many bars that are open. Of course expect to be singing the Viva Bonderam song by the end of it as it is played quite frequently through the day.

Divar is a hidden island in the Mandovi River, barely 10kms away from Panjim. The scenic jetty leads on to a road with paddy fields on both sides before you enter the tiny Piedade village and go on to the main square where the festival is held. 

The festival is free for all, but you will have to spend money on drinks and food there if you so wish to buy those, as well as a ferry ticket will cost you just INR10 only for four-wheelers (people and two-wheelers can travel on the ferry for free). 

The best way to enjoy the festival is to spend the whole weekend at the island in a guesthouse. But if you are planning to visit just for the day, then one can catch a ferry from Old Goa or Ribander Jetty and then drive on or either take the public bus from the jetty to the Main Square. If you don’t have your own vehicle then do remember to book a taxi in advance as you wont get any there.