DINAHIT FESTIVAL

catanduanes-dinahit-festival Photo from: catanduanes.gov.ph

Pandan is a municipality almost embraced bodies of water kissing the waves of Pacific Ocean and Maqueda Channel. It lies at the northern tip of province, 96 kilometers from the capital town of Virac.

“Dinahit”, a wind- driven sailing vessel used by maritime ancestors, is theme of this particular Festival in an effort to awaken “Pandanons”love for of its history, culture. It is a celebration of the farmers and fishermen in their good catch and harvest, those who labor hard under the sun and above the seas.

Dinahit Festival is the prime activity during the summer season in Pandan, Catanduanes. “Dinahit” is a term used by local folks in Catanduanes in referring to the wind-driven (ikanlayag) sailing vessel with twooutriggers used by mariners, the Austronesians in going to Pandan. Dinahit was derived from local term “pinagadahit”, meaning to drag to shore or safety.

Over the centuries, the dinahit survived colonial prohibitions and technological competition, it sailed the surrounding waters of Catanduanes communities. It is the epitome of the triumph of tradition over foreign cultural domination. – Text from: https://www.facebook.com/AkoSiBunorako/photos/?tab=album&album_id=562469023768311

Dinahit Festival is a prime festival in the municipality of Pandan celebrated every April. The word Dinahit is a native sailing vessel used by the Austronesians to travel across the ocean to reach Pandan, the northernmost municipality of the province. The activities of the festival include street dancing, beauty pageant, trade fair, and different contests such as carabao race and boat race. – Text from: http://alchetron.com/Catanduanes-5213-W