World Daman Day 2010

Following the resounding success of World Daman Day 2008 & 2009, the organizers decided to open the celebrations of World Daman Day 2010 on the 2nd of February 2010 - the day Damão came to be in 1559 - leading to the big day itself around the 20th of August 2010.

The theme for World Daman Day 2010 was, Viva Damão! Eu falo Português! because of all the cultural facets – art, religion, tradition, custom, language, music, cuisine, architecture and attire – language is the binding glue that holds it all together and it also is the conduit through which culture is propagated.

An idea proposed by Rene Baretto, founder of World Goa Day, in 2008 has grown into a great tree spreading its branches around the globe while rooted deeply in the local culture.

Though the official website at www.WorldDamanDay.com has been serving its purpose excellently, the organizers of World Daman Day 2010 made good use of Facebook as the main means of communicating and propagating the concept making it possible for anyone with a Facebook account to participate. This made ‘meetings’ obsolete, thus eliminating the usual consensus of a handful of naysayers and instead garnering the mandate of 1300+ Facebook fans of Daman!

While World Daman Day has mainly been celebrated by Damanenses outside Daman, in Daman itself the movement picked up so much momentum this year that it surpassed the celebrations of all other places by far!

There was a football tournament sponsored by Hotels Miramar & Mirasol organized by Ralph Miranda, Sports Coordinator for World Daman Day 2010. Six teams vied for the WDD-2010 cup over the course of 18 matches as detailed below:

1. St. Tiago vs Classic 8 = 1-0

2. Holy Cross-A vs 8 Bandidos = 0-2

3. 8 Bandidos vs Holy Cross-B = 2-0

4. St. Tiago vs Holy Cross-A = 0-1

5. Classic 8 vs Chain Gang = 2-0

6. Chain Gang vs Holy Cross-B = 0-1

7. St. Tiago vs 8 Bandidos = 1-0

8. Holy Cross-A vs Chain Gang = 4-0

9. Classic 8 vs Holy Cross-B = 0-0

10. St. Tiago vs Chain Gang(w/o) = 0-0 (St. Tiago wins)

11.Classic 8 vs 8 Bandidos = 0-1

12. Holy Cross-A vs Holy Cross-B = 6-8

13.8 Bandidos vs Chain Gang(w/o) = 0-0 (8 Bandidos wins)

14.Classic 8 vs Holy Cross-A = 1-0

15.St. Tiago vs Holy Cross-B = 1-1

16.Semi Final - I

St. Tiago vs Classic 8 = 0-1 (Penalty shoot-out!)

17.Semi Final - II

Holy Cross-B vs 8 Bandidos = 1-0 (Penalty shoot-out!)

18.Final (4th September 2010; 6pm)

Classic 8 vs Holy Cross-B = 2-1 (Penalty shoot-out!)

Classic 8 won the World Daman Day 2010 Cup!

The grand finale to World Daman Day 2010 in Daman orchestrated by Louella Da Rocha, Country Coordinator - India (Daman), turned out to be the best ever, anywhere...

* An unexpectedly large crowd

* The presence of Professor Ajay Prasad, of the Centre for European & Latin American Studies, JMI University, Delhi

* Beautifully presented Portuguese traditional dances accompanied by live Portuguese music

* 100% Portuguese music throughout the evening

* Dinner and dance


* Authentic Damanense cuisine no catering service could ever hope to compete with

* Absence of the usual‘VIPs’ - because on WDD, every Damanense is a VVIP!

The organizers have been flagging off World Daman Day on the 2nd of February - “Dia de Damão” - and culminating the celebrations in August-September. However, since this time of year sees the most inclement weather due to the southwest monsoon, not to mention school exams and the popular demand for shifting the main event to February, Daman will henceforth have the main event on the opening day i.e., 2nd February, beginning 2011 while other countries will continue to celebrate it on or about the 20th of August.

Viva Damão! Eu falo Português!

Photographs courtesy Douglas Guedes

Share your story of Daman Day 2010!

Did you attend Daman Day 2010? If so, tell us about your experience and share your photographs of the event here. If not, then too have your say!

Viva Damão! Eu falo Português!

World Daman Day 2008

World Daman Day 2009

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