Dinagyang Festival is celebrated every fourth weekend of January to honor Christian natives and respect Jesus God's children. Today, the streets of Iloilo City again to life as Ilonggos celebrate the annual work. Sto Niño As An Object Of The Present Action And Chant Amid Crack Of Drums And Voices Shout Of "Viva Señor Santo Niño."The thunder of" HA "Bira tribe members to make a lively celebration. It is also the most popular rope used by Ilonggos participation warmly during the celebrations in honor of the tribute "Dinagyang" Señor Sto. Most of the time in miracles Ilonggos starvation and drought.
In the beginning, the observance of the feast was confined to the parish. The Confradia patterned the celebration on the Ati-atihan of Ibajay, Aklan, where natives dance in the streets, their bodies covered with soot and ashes, to simulate the Atis dancing to celebrate the sale of Panay. It was these tribal groups who were the prototype of the present festival.
The Dinagyang is divided into three Major events: Ati-Ati Street Dancing, Kasadyahan Street Dancing and Miss Dinagyang.
Today, the main part of the festival consists of a number of "tribes", called "tribus", who are supposed to be Ati tribe members dancing in celebration. It should be noted that no actual Ati are involved nor do they benefit in any way from this event. There are a number of requirements, including that the performers must paint their skin brown and that only indigenous materials can be used for the costumes. All dances are performed to drum music. Many tribes are organized by the local high schools. Some tribes receive a subsidiary from the organizers and recruit private sponsors, with the best tribes receiving the most. The current Ati population of Iloilo is not involved with any of the tribes nor are they involved in the festival in any other way.
Dinagyang was voted as the best Tourism Event for 2006, 2007 and 2008 by the Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines. It is the first festival in the world to get the support of the United Nations for the promotion of the Millennium Development Goals, and cited by the Asian Development Bank as Best Practice on government, private sector & NGO cooperatives.