Kids dance to the tune during presentation of float 'Adlem Kazar Sobhemazar' by Belsur ward at the traditional Bonderam festival in Sao Mathias.
OLD GOA
Divar island came to life as one celebration of the traditional Bonderam festival was celebrated on Saturday, with hundreds of people thronging Sao Mathias to witness the annual event.
While there were many activities focussing on the different aspects of the festival, the floats continued to be the star attraction with the four wards from Sao Mathias presenting their respective floats on themes connected to the daily routine of Goans.
The catchy songs accompanying the floats coupled with the rhythmic dances of the boys and girls kept the audience enthralled during the float parade.
First up was Amboi ward showcasing 'Goenchim Poromporik Festam' highlighting the different festivals of Goa like Shigmo, Carnival, Sao Joao, etc where communities of different religion participate, keeping the brotherhood alive.
The next float was presented by Church ward 'Goenche Chonekar' showcasing the traditional occupation of the Goans which is still kept alive for generations by the hardworking Goans.
Goddar stars then presented their float on Goa's heritage tree, the coconut, amply titled 'Madd Jivitachem Zadd'.
The float highlighted the various uses of the coconut in the daily life of Goans which make it an inseparable part of Goa's cultural ethos.
Finally, the float parade wound up with the Belsur ward presenting their float 'Adlem Kazar Sobhemazar' which took the audience back to the yesteryears when the weddings were celebrated in truly traditional ways unlike today's weddings which have taken modern form.
The float opened with the traditional Konkani song and then transformed into a modern tune played, giving the audience an insight into the transformation that has happened over the years.
Meanwhile, the other attractions of the Bonderam included the 'Khatodeo', a game where a person is supported to break the coconut with the help of a bamboo stick blindfolded.
Also, the fancy dress competition for the seniors and the juniors caught the attention of the crowd, particularly some performances by the juniors who spoke on the current scenario like climate change.
The 'Bonderamchi Passoy' too saw good participation with the people taken around the village showcasing its culture and history, and traditional Goan sweet served to the participants.
The flag march was also part of the Passoy accompanied by a brass band.
For the young crowd, there was the DJ music which kept them enthralled during the night.
