Cultural Mapping of Diu
On a commissioning by the Government of Daman, Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, a documentation project on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Union territories of Daman, Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli was taken up. The project incorporates the knowledge, skills and practices in which local communities of the region are involved.
Diu Island, situated at sea level, covers a total area of 38.8 sq km. Situated off the southern tip of Saurashtra peninsula of Gujarat; it is separated from the mainland by a creek and connected by a bridge. The region is lapped by the Amreli district in the north and by the Arabian Sea from Three sides.
Diu, a possession of the Portuguese till the 1960’s, has been well known since the Puranic period. The history of Diu traces its roots to the Maurya rule and the Jain traditions from Diu can be traced back to this period.
Before the Portuguese period, from the 14th to 16th centuries, Diu remained an important port town. Known for trading, especially of woven and dyed fabrics, merchants from various parts of the world came to this region.
Over the last few years, there has been an increasing migration out of the city of Diu resulting in a loss of the culture of the communities. The art and craft items, once known as the ‘identifiers’ for the communities, are under threat.
This documentation was published in 2014.