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TRIBAL FESTIVAL · ADIVASI HOLI · BHIL RATHWAKawant Holi Fair
The great tribal Holi of eastern Gujarat — the Kawant fair, held at the Holi festival on the banks of the Orsang river at Kawant, draws tens of thousands of Adivasi participants from across the tribal belt of eastern Gujarat for three days of devotion, music, dancing and colour.
The greatest tribal festival of eastern Gujarat
The Kawant Holi fair is one of the largest and most significant Adivasi festivals in Gujarat — a gathering of Rathwa, Bhil, Nayak and other tribal communities from across the eastern districts, held at the confluence of the Orsang river at Kawant during the Holi full-moon in February or March. At its peak the fair draws more than a hundred thousand participants.
It is primarily a tribal Holi — the celebration of the Holi festival in its most ancient and communal form, predating the standardised urban Holi traditions. The colours, the dancing, the music and the devotion have a raw and uninhibited quality that is quite different from the more organised celebrations of city Holi.
The Kawant fair also has a market character — craft and produce stalls, food vendors, and the specific tribal goods (lacquerware from Sankheda, tribal jewellery and textiles) that make it an important annual commercial and cultural occasion for the district. For the visitor with a genuine interest in tribal culture, the Kawant Holi fair is one of the most remarkable events in Gujarat’s calendar — but it requires careful, respectful attendance, ideally with a guide who has community connections.
Illustration — Kawant Holi fair.
From a riverside experiment to the road to freedom
Illustration — Kawant fair.
Tribal Holi tradition.
Sacred gathering point.
Rathwa, Bhil, Nayak, others.
100,000+ participants.
Reasons to make the time
Festival
The greatest tribal Holi.
Orsang
Sacred river.
Music
Tribal dance and drum.
Colour
Ancient Holi.
Community
Multi-tribal gathering.
Visual
Extraordinary spectacle.
What to look for inside
Kawant
Tribal Holi.
Orsang bank
Sacred confluence.
How to spend an hour or two
Go with a guide
Essential for context.
Arrive early
Before the crowds build.
Watch the tribal dance
The dhol drums.
See the craft stalls
Lacquerware and textiles.
Respect the tradition
Do not intrude.
Photograph with permission
People first.
Illustration — Kawant Holi.
A tribal festival on the Orsang river
The Kawant fair centres on the Orsang river, whose bank serves as the gathering ground. The Holi bonfire is lit at dusk on the full moon night; the following day is the main colour celebration. Throughout, tribal musicians play dhol drums, and specific tribal dances are performed that are rarely seen outside the festival context.
The market runs alongside for all three days, offering the craft production of the district — Sankheda lacquerware, tribal silver, handwoven textiles. (Attend with a guide; exercise respectful behaviour; do not intrude into ritual spaces.)
Largest tribal Holi gathering in eastern Gujarat
100,000+ Rathwa, Bhil, Nayak and other Adivasi participants
Orsang river bank — sacred confluence setting
Dhol drums, tribal dance, colour, and craft market
When to go
Best conditions and festivals.
Lush and green; monsoon mood.
Hot; early morning best.
⏰ October to February is ideal — festivals and clear skies.
Timings & entry
- Held over three days around the Holi full moon
- Dates shift each year with the lunar calendar
- Bonfire at dusk; main colour day follows
- Market runs all three days
- Strongly recommended to attend with a community guide
- Open access — no ticket required
- Respect ritual spaces and ask before photographing
- Best reached via Chhota Udaipur or Vadodara
Getting there
By Air
Vadodara airport (~100 km).
By Rail
Bodeli / Chhota Udaipur.
By Road
NH-56 from Vadodara.
What to eat
LOCAL FOOD
What to eat at the Kawant fair and across the district
Best light
Arrive early, before the crowds build, for the cool morning light along the Orsang bank.
People first
Always ask before photographing people — the fair is a genuine tribal festival, not a tourist show.
What to shoot
The dhol drummers, tribal dancers, colour clouds and the craft stalls lining the river.
Be respectful
Keep your distance from ritual spaces and follow your guide's lead at all times.
Know before you go
More to see close by
Adivasi Museum
A quiet trove of Rathwa art and ritual
Hafeshwar Temple
Kawant Fair
A riot of colour at the tribal Holi fair
Forest Deity Shrines
Sacred groves of the Rathwa people
Kusum Vilas Palace
The elegant royal residence of the town
Koraj Hill Viewpoint
A forested viewpoint over the hills
Where to eat around the ashram
Gujarati Thali
Comfort home cooking.
Rathwa food
Forest produce & millet.
Bajra roti
Tribal staple.
Forest honey
From Adivasi villages.
Tribal & local fare
Expect simple Gujarati thalis, millet rotis, forest produce and honey from Adivasi villages.
Kawant Holi Fair FAQ
When is the Kawant fair?
Holi full moon — February or March.
Is it a tourist event?
No — a genuine tribal festival. Attend respectfully.
Guide required?
Strongly recommended.
How many people?
100,000+.
What to see?
Tribal dance, dhol drums, colour, and craft market.
Photography?
Ask before photographing people.
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