Bhagoriya Festival

The tribal people of Madhya Pradesh form an important part of its culture and contribute to the colorful graffiti of the state. They have their indigenous norms, moral yardsticks and tribal heritage that they strive to preserve. This unique tradition and vibrant culture comes alive in the Bhagoriya festival of Alirajpur.The festival marks the onset of the spring season and falls a few days before Holi. It is a boisterous merriment, accompanied by singing, dancing and drunken revelry.
Bhagoria Festival is especially a trademark celebration of the Bhils, particularly in the district of West Nimar,Jhabua and Alirajpur district.

It is believed that Bhagoriya started during the time of Raja Bhoj. At that time, two Bhil kings, Kasumar and Balun, started organizing fairs in their capital, Bhagor. Gradually, the nearby Bhil kings also started following them, due to which it became a trend to refer to the markets and fairs as Bhagoriya. However, people are not unanimous about this. Different groups of youth have been roaming around the fair since early morning, playing flutes, drums, and percussion. At the same time, tribal girls get tattoos on their hands. Tribal people also drink toddy. However, the tone of the song has changed with time. Now, tribal boys are seen wearing more modern clothes than traditional clothes. Villagers from Rajasthan and Gujarat also make their way to the fair.