Culture & Festivals of Daman
Daman can boast of rich and multi-faceted cultural heritage. Dance and music are very much part of the daily life of the people of Daman. Here is a true fusion of cultures-tribal, urban, European and Indian. This ornate amalgam is reflected in the traditional dances of Daman. Various forms of Portuguese dance are well-preserved and are widely presented. Tribal dances with caustic social comment are very much in vogue.

People
A large number of the population is fishermen. You can find traditional way of weaving nets, making ropes, repairing boats after their fishing hours. Other occupations is agriculture. Main crops are rice and some pulses. Many people tap toddy from the toddy palms, a common man's drink. There is a sizable population of Catholic Christians who speak Portuguese. They have maintained some of the tradition of the Portuguese. Parsis, Hindus, Muslims and Jains have lived here in harmony earning their livelihood either in business or industry. Discovering people of this land is one of nicest feelings one can experience.

Nariyal Poornima
The sea-faring people of Daman look forward to the end of the monsoon in order to resume sailing in quest of action and adventure. Nariyal Poornima marks the commencement of the fishing season and the people of Daman flock to the seashore to offer coconuts to the mighty Gods who preside over wind and water. Nariyal Poornima is a day of joy, feasting and revelry. The Administration of Daman and Diu and west zone cultural centre celebrate this event at Daman as a regional festival. Hundreds of tourists come to Daman to witness a variety of colorful water sports and to attend the cultural programmes put up by the west zone culture centre. One of the highlights is the coconut food festival organized as part of the celebration.

Christmas
Daman explodes with light, laughter, song and dance during the happy season of Christ's nativity. Houses are gaily decorated to receive the Infant Jesus. Bright and colorful Christmas lamps cheer up the nights. Cribs and mangers are found at every turn. It is a season of goodwill and fellowship. The administration of Daman
celebrates the Christmas festival as part of its tourism promotion programme and people from far and wide come to witness the fascinating Portuguese dances and to taste the famed Christmas cookies of Daman.

Culture & Festivals of Diu
Diu is a showpiece of a colorful culture, complex and composite in character. As in Daman, there is a magnificent mix of Gujaratis and Portuguese in its patterns of life and art. The friendly fun-loving people of Diu keep alive their priceless heritage of folk arts by singing and dancing.

Garba is a popular folk dance of Gujarat and of Diu in special. It is normally performed by women dressed in colourful costumes with typical ornaments, accompanied by singing of song in praise of Goddess Amba. It is performed especially during Navratri the most popular festival of the region. The colorful costumes, the mesmerizing music and the graceful steps cast an enchanting spell on the viewers.

Portuguese Falk Dance
The typical Portuguese regional folk dances of the territory include the Mando Dance, Vira Dance, and the Verdigao in which happiness and the whole life style of the people of Diu is depicted.

In these dances the clean roads, the delicious food and the traditions of Diu are described. Drink, eat, sing and be merry; that is the motto of the song and dance. The traditional dances are in slow motion with elderly participating in them, but the young are carrying on the traditions of the Old.