Hi there awesome steemians! In this post I will introduce you to one of my most favorite festivals in my homeland, Negros Occidental, DINAGSA FESTIVAL.
These were the words that pops in my mind whenever i hear the word dinagsa. Here's a glimpse of this wonderful festival :)
Dinagsa Festival is a colorful Ati-atihan celebration of the people of Northern Negros. A celebration in honor of Patron Sto.Nino (Infant Jesus) held last week of January. This is a weeklong celebration filled with rhythmic beating of the drums and you will see the performers’ painted in black or covered with soot to portray an “Ati” (Indigenous people in Philippines) dances along with those beats.
This is one of the most awaited festival in Negros occidental since it’s packed with fun activities such as the Ati-atihan, dinagsa queen, the lamhitanay and battle of the bands.
The unique feature of the festival is the “Lamhitanay”, of which residents and visitors roam the streets and smother paint in each other’s faces. So when you go there be prepared to get dirty as saying “no” or getting angry is an insult! Don’t be surprised that even when you just get out of the bus or riding a tricycle people will “lamhit” in your face. If you don’t like it better stay home. This isn’t something you experience often, so enjoy the festivities.
Lucky for me one of my best friend(Aira) lives in Cadiz city. We got an invite from her family to join them celebrate the festival. And since cadiz city is as well known as one of the seafood capital of Negros, we were served with different kinds of seafood. On our menu was Steemed Crab, Stuffed Squid, Grilled and Buttered shrimp, Grilled Bangus (Milkfish) and Grilled tiilapia and last but not the least tita’s Humba (chicken and pork adobo,not seafood though) but my super favorite recipe of aira's mom.
As we roam around the streets of cadiz, we got to experience “the lamhitanay” and it was so much fun. Everyone who passed by us first asked permission to put some paint in your shirt and face and vice versa. It’s like everyone were friends, everyone was dancing their hearts out to the drum beats, no fights and you can see everyone enjoys every minute of it and the bonus is that you got the privilege of talking to your crush for a few minutes without any awkwardness. So much fun right? :)
DINAGSA depicts the Cadiznons love for seafood and culture. It’s is one of the festival Negros Occidental is proud of. It’s promoting CAMARADERIE for residents and most importantly, HOSPITALITY for visitors. Another way of saying that, IT’S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES.
