Khandeshi, also spelt Qhandeshi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in the Khandesh region of north-west Maharashtra, and also in Gujarat. It consists of Khandeshi proper, and the Dangri and Ahirani dialects. Kunbi and Rangari are dialects. The Ahirani dialect of this language is mostly spoken. Devanagari script is used to write Khandeshi language. The words "Ahirani" and "Khandeshi" are sometimes used interchangeably: Ahirani as the caste-based name (after Ahirs), and Khandesh as the region-based name. The Census of 1911, 1921 and 1931 counted the Ahirani speaking people as Gujaratis but in later decades they have been recognized as a different language.
