Rain fails to dampen Divar’s Bonderam spirit

The tiny island of Divar came alive in a riot of colour, music and tradition as locals and visitors gathered for the annual Bonderam festival, with colourful buntings, live performances and traditional Goan fare setting the mood for the celebration.Also known as the Festival of Flags, Bonderam takes its name from the Portuguese word Bandeira, meaning flags. The tradition dates back to a time when Divar witnessed frequent land disputes.The festivities featured the traditional flag march, colourful float parades and live performances, drawing both locals and tourists to the island. Even the rains could not keep visitors away, with many turning up in raincoats and armed with umbrellas to soak in the celebrations.Among them was Mumbai-based software engineer Radhika Patil, who had first encountered Bonderam on social media. “I had watched it on Instagram, but we really enjoyed watching it live. It’s exciting, and we even danced with some of the floats,” she said.