Divar
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The island of Divar is located approximately 10 kms from Panjim, (also called Panaji), and can be reached by a ferry ride on both sides. On the south-east side the ferry is at Old Goa, on the south-west side the ferry is at Ribandar, and on the north side, the ferry is located at Narwe. There is also a launch which connects to the city of Panjim and can be taken from further north-west, in the village of Vitogem. The launch is a good hours ride. The Konkan Railway passes through the village and the nearest stop to the village is the train station at Karmali.
The villages of Divar are still a distance from the ferries and the drive to the village is very pretty with paddy fields and wooded hills lacing the roadway, very typical of the Goan countryside. Though in a manner equally typical of modern Goa, of late the paddy fields lie fallow and overrun with weeds.
Piedade, a small village is spread at the bottom of a small forested hillock on which there is the Church of Our Lady of Compassion. The island is dotted with well maintained, elegant Portuguese villas. From the top of the hill, superb panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, including Old Goa, the capital of Goa, Panaji, the meandering Mandovi river, and the bridges across it can be seen. The famous Bonderam festival is celebrated in Divar on the fourth Saturday of August during the monsoon with great fanfare and attended by thousands of tourists and locals.
The original inhabitants of this island were people who once lived in Old Goa but had to desert during a disastrous pest that heavily decimated the population of Old Goa.
There is an interesting story about the huge bell which today adorns the Se Cathedral in Old Goa. It was originally donated by the master of a sinking ship who'd made a vow that, were he to survive his fate, he would donate the ship's bell to the first church village, town, or city his vessel touched. It so happened that that island was Divar. In keeping with his promise, he donated the bell to the church of Divar, which is located on a high hillock. Unfortunately though, every time the bell was struck, it shattered the windows of the church and the houses in the vicinity, so a deal was struck and the bell was exchanged with that of the Se Catherdral.
