The root word is dagyang. In Ilonggo, it means to make happy.Dinagyang is the present progressive word of the Ilonggo word,meaning making merry or merry-making. A religious and culturalactivity, it is a celebration of Ilonggos whose bodies arepainted with black in effect to imitate the black, small andslender Negritos who are the aborigines of Panay. The warriorsare dressed in fashionable and colorful Aeta costumes and danceartistically and rhythmically with complicated formations alongwith the loud thrashing and sound of drums.
Before, Dinagyang was called Ati-atihan like that of theKalibo festivity. History tells that it started when a replicaof the image of Señor Sto. Niño was brought tothe San Jose Parish Church in Iloilo from Cebu. The people ofIloilo honored the coming of the image and then becamedevotees. Until they made the day of the Image's arrival as hisfeast day which falls on the 4th Sunday of January. Since 1968,it was already considered a yearly celebration, culminated by anine-day Novena, an Ati-ati contest and a fluvial procession onthe last day.