West India · Union territory
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
Coastal Portuguese-era forts and churches at Daman and Diu, with the forested, largely Adivasi interior of Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
- Capital
- Daman — The two former union territories were merged in 2020; Daman is the administrative headquarters.
- Languages
- Gujarati, Hindi, English (official); Marathi, Konkani, Varli — major and official languages, not an exclusive list.
Cultural traditions, arts & crafts
- • Warli painting by Adivasi communities of Dadra and Nagar Haveli
- • Indo-Portuguese fort and church architecture at Diu and Daman
- • Tarpa dance performed with a gourd wind instrument
- • Coastal fishing and boat-building crafts
Major festivals
- Tarpa / harvest festivals — October–November (dates vary — verify current dates)
- Nariyal Poornima — August (dates vary — verify current dates)
- Feast of Our Lady of Sea, Diu — Announced annually (dates vary — verify current dates)
Traditional dress & textiles
Dress varies by community, district, occasion and generation; everyday clothing today is often contemporary. These are representative traditions rather than a single state costume.
- • Warli and other Adivasi communities wear simple cotton drapes with silver ornaments at festivals
- • Gujarati-influenced chaniya choli and kediyu appear at fairs
- • Coastal Catholic communities retain Portuguese-influenced formal dress for church occasions
Where to go
- Daman, Diu & Silvassa
Sources & verify
- DNH & DD Administration (official)
- Know India — States & UTs (Government of India)
- Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles
Last reviewed: August 2026. Cultural traditions in India vary by community, district, occasion and generation. The notes below are representative examples reviewed against government sources, not exhaustive or official definitions. Festival timings follow lunar or locally announced calendars — verify current dates with the relevant state tourism department before travelling.