Festa de Diu (Festival of Diu)
Diu is a small Indian town. It is in the union territory of Daman and Diu.
Diu was a Portuguese colony until India government annexed it in 1961. Portuguese influence is still visible in the architecture. Diu is basically a fishing town. It is known for its Portuguese cathedral and fortress. The town is sparsely populated. The main languages spoken here are Hindi, Gujarati, Portuguese and English.
The island covers an area of 38.8 km2. The climate is pleasant. The fort is the tallest building in Diu. It has no skyscrapers. The fort and the churches have Portuguese architecture. Chief attractions include the three Portuguese churches. St. Paul’s Church was completed in 1610 and is still used a church. St. Thomas Church now houses a museum. The Church of St. Francis of Assisi was built in 1593. It is now used as a hospital.
Tourist attractions
INS Khukri memorial attracts thousands of visitors. It has an open amphitheater. It is near the Jallandhar Beach. The place is also ideal for taking some breathtaking photos of sunsets.
The Nagoa beach is near Diu Airport. The beach and the offshore lighthouse are quite popular with tourists. Other popular recreational activities include boating, parasailing and jet skiing. Alcohol is legal in Diu. The hotel and leisure industry in Diu is growing at a fast pace. Last year, the island attracted 17,00,000. This year they expect to get 35,00,000 visitors.
With the objective of attracting more visitors, Diu hosts a festival called Festa De Diu (Festival of Diu). This year, the President of India inaugurated it on December 1. This is a 77 day festival that will conclude on February 15, 2016. Festa De Diu is being organized as the biggest beach festival in Asia. Its aim is to celebrate art, culture, music and heritage.
The festival village has 60 air-conditioned luxury tents. There is also a conference hall that can seat over 200 guests. The tents provide all the amenities that you would typically find in a five-star hotel.
Visitors who book accommodation will have free access to all the performances. The festival will be organized under four zones – beach, fort, cave and amphitheater. A variety of programs including carnival, fashion shows and concerts have been organized.
How to reach Diu
You can reach Diu by air, train or road. There are regular flights between Mumbai and Diu airport. Diu is an hour journey from Mumbai. The nearest railway station is Una which is about 12 km from Diu. Diu is connected to Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Vadodara. Both private and government buses run service between Ahmedabad and Diu. Best time to visit: October – April