Dang Darbar Festival

Dang Darbar, the annual festival held at Ahwa every year a few days before Holi (February – March), offers an insight into the local folk culture of Dangs. The origin of the Dang Darbar may be traced back to a period just following the execution of forest leases by the British with the Dangi Chiefs in 1842. The Chiefs and Naiks were entitled to annual payment of the subsidy for their forest and Abkari rights, land revenue in the form of plough-tax, grazing fees on cattle and various Gira allowances from the surrounding States and the British territory. These payments were made annually to the Chiefs and Naiks by holding a Darbar of all Rajas, Naiks, Bhaubandhs and the Dangi people. The main objective of holding the Darbar was to collect all these persons at one place and to establish a rapport with them.

Although the British left in 1947, the Darbar continues to be held at Ahwa till date. Instead of the annual subsidy paid earlier, now the former Dangi Chiefs, Naiks and Bhaubandhs are paid the annual political pension in lieu of their rights and privileges. The Forest Department presents prizes to those villagers who have protected the forests around their village from fire. The Darbar is now held under the chairmanship of H.E. the Governor of Gujarat.

The week long celebration continues with dancing, music, folk instruments and theater. Nearly half the district’s population visits Ahwa during the Darbar week to visit the annual market and fair which accompanies the Darbar. Merchants from the surrounding region flock to sell their wares.