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FOLK RELIGION · VOTIVE SHRINES · ADIVASITribal Deities
The oldest layer of the sacred — the tribal deities of Dahod, honoured at village shrines with offerings of votive terracotta horses, represent a living folk religion of the Bhil and Rathwa communities, an ancient sacred world woven into the forests, fields and villages of the district.
The folk religion of tribal Dahod
Beneath and alongside the mainstream Hindu temples of Dahod district lies an older and equally living layer of the sacred — the folk religion of the Bhil, Rathwa and other Adivasi communities who form the great majority of the district’s population. The most evocative and visible expression of this tradition is the votive terracotta horse — fired clay horse figures, often brightly painted, offered at village shrines as fulfilments of vows and as offerings to local deities, ancestral spirits and guardian figures.
Clusters of these terracotta horses, standing at shrines under trees, beside fields or in the open countryside, are one of the most striking sights of tribal Gujarat, connecting the present-day communities to an ancient stratum of folk belief. The tribal sacred world is not confined to shrines: it encompasses sacred groves and trees, hill and river deities, ancestral spirits, and a calendar of festivals — including the great Holi gatherings of the region — in which the relationship between the community and the sacred is renewed.
For the respectful visitor, encountering this living folk religion — best with a local guide who has community connections — is one of the most rewarding and humbling experiences that Dahod offers, a glimpse of a sacred tradition far older than the recorded history of the region. (A living tribal religion; visit shrines only with a local guide; ask before photographing sacred objects; maintain respectful behaviour throughout.)
Votive terracotta horses at a tribal shrine, Dahod. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
From a riverside experiment to the road to freedom
Votive terracotta horses, Dahod. Wikimedia Commons.
Tribal folk religion.
Offerings at shrines.
Groves, hills, rivers.
A living everyday faith.
Reasons to make the time
Terracotta
Votive horse offerings.
Folk religion
A living tradition.
Sacred groves
Trees and nature.
Adivasi
Bhil and Rathwa.
Festivals
Holi and more.
Ancient
Older than history.
What to look for inside
Terracotta
Offerings at shrines.
Tribal country
A sacred landscape.
Village shrines
Under trees and in fields.
Deities & spirits
Local guardians and ancestors.
Fulfilments of vows
Painted clay, given in faith.
Holi gatherings
The sacred renewed each year.
How to spend an hour or two
Visit a village shrine
With a local guide.
See the votive horses
Offerings and vows.
Learn the tradition
Deities and spirits.
Note the sacred groves
Trees and nature.
Visit during a festival
Holi is remarkable.
Photograph respectfully
Ask first.
Votive terracotta horses, Dahod. Wikimedia Commons.
A folk religion of the Adivasi
The tribal religion of Dahod is a living folk tradition of the Bhil, Rathwa and other Adivasi communities — expressed most visibly in the votive terracotta horses offered at village shrines, and extending to sacred groves, hill and river deities, ancestral spirits, and a calendar of festivals.
It is an ancient sacred world, woven into the forests, fields and villages of the district, far older than its recorded history. (A living tribal religion; visit only with a local guide; ask before photographing sacred objects.)
The living folk religion of the Bhil and Rathwa
Votive terracotta horses offered at village shrines
Sacred groves, hill and river deities, ancestral spirits
Renewed through festivals including the great Holi gatherings
When to go
Cool and clear — ideal for visits.
The cultural highlights.
Hot; early morning best.
⏰ Festival days — Holi and Shravan — are the most vivid times for Dahod's sacred life.
Timings & entry
- Cool, clear weather from October to March
- Holi and Shravan are the most vivid times
- Allow 30–45 minutes at a shrine
- Early mornings are best in the hot season
- Visit shrines only with a local guide who has community ties
- Ask before photographing sacred objects
- Maintain respectful, quiet behaviour throughout
- Entry to village shrines is free
Getting there
By Air
Vadodara (~155 km) or Indore are the nearest airports, with onward road connections to Dahod.
By Rail
Dahod Junction is a major station on the Mumbai–Delhi line, well connected across the network.
By Road
NH-47 runs through the district; state buses reach Dahod from Godhra and Vadodara.
Photographing the shrines
RESPECT FIRST
A living faith — ask before you photograph anything sacred
Be respectful
These are active places of worship — always ask before photographing sacred objects or people.
What to shoot
Clusters of votive terracotta horses, shrines under trees, and the wider tribal landscape.
Go with a guide
A local guide with community connections opens doors and explains what you are seeing.
Best light
Festival days and the soft light of early morning bring the shrines most vividly to life.
Know before you go
More to see close by
Baba Pyara Caves
Ancient rock-cut shelters hidden in the hills
Ratanmahal
Rugged hills sheltering India's sloth bears
Garbada Tribal Belt
Living Bhil tribal hamlets
Dahod Town Temples
Historic shrines of the old town
Tribal Haats
Colourful weekly markets of the Bhil belt
Dahod Town
Birthplace of emperor Aurangzeb
Where to eat around the ashram
Gujarati Thali
Comfort home cooking.
Tribal food
Forest produce & maize.
Makai
The maize staple.
Rustic tribal fare
Expect maize (makai), dal-bati and simple forest produce across the district.
Tribal Deities FAQ
What are the tribal deities of Dahod?
The local deities and spirits of the Bhil and Rathwa folk religion.
What are the votive terracotta horses?
Clay horse figures offered at village shrines as fulfilments of vows.
Can I visit the shrines?
Yes — only with a local guide, respectfully.
Photography?
Ask before photographing sacred objects.
When is it most vivid?
During festivals such as Holi.
Why is it significant?
It is an ancient living folk religion, older than recorded history.
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