This year, my family and I had the immense joy of attending the Malar (Sao Mathias) Bonderam Fest, and it was nothing short of a life-changing experience. The St Mathias Sports Club courtyard, decorated with mollam, came alive with music by Malarchi Motiam, a teenage village band that reminded us that the future of Goan music is in good hands. The festival balanced tradition with innovation — GEDTalks and Bonderancho Uzvaad, Aaron Lobo and by Dr Glenis Mendonca and her students, brought storytelling and culture into a modern, youth-friendly format, while the spread of Goan food rekindled memories of days gone by. The highlight for us was the Heritage Walk – Bonderachi Pasoi, curated by Festacar Marius Fernandes and hosted by Lucius de Almeida. Winding through Amboi, Goddar, Belsur, and Church Vaddo, the walk offered brass bands, street plays, goan sweets, and stories. Bonderam is often described as a festival of flags, but for me and my family, it was much more. It was a festival of belonging — where history, music, food, and community came together, and every generation found its place in the story of Goa.
