Our Lady of Piety Church

The Church of Our Lady of Piety is one of the most visible reminders of Silvassa's Portuguese colonial past, built in 1889 and still an active place of worship today. The white facade with its arched portico sits just opposite the Tribal Cultural Museum in the centre of town, and the contrast between the two institutions — one preserving indigenous culture, the other a legacy of four centuries of colonial rule — is rather pointed.

The interior is modest but well-maintained. The highlight is an old painting of the Last Supper on the wall behind the altar, and the archways of the entrance portico frame the street in a way that has made this one of Silvassa's most photographed corners.

The annual feast of Our Lady of Piety in late October is worth timing a visit around if you have the flexibility. The church becomes the centre of a procession and celebration that draws participants from across Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

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A story
The Portuguese built this church in 1889, just 65 years before India absorbed the territory. The congregation continued to worship here through the transition without interruption — testimony to the deep roots the Church had put down in the Silvassa community over four centuries of Portuguese presence. The annual feast of Our Lady of Piety, held in late October, still draws worshippers from across the territory.