 |
 |
|
 |
| Major Cities |
Gujarat is situated between 20o1' and 24o7' north latitudes and 68o4' and 74o4'east longitudes on the west coast of India. It is bounded on the west by the Arabian sea, on the north-west by Pakistan, on the north by Rajasthan, on the east by Madhya Pradesh and on the south and south-east by Maharashtra. The state of Gujarat occupies the northern extremity of the western sea-board of India. It has the longest coast line 1290km among Indian states. The state comprises three geographical regions.
ARTSMusicIn the field of music, Gujarat has made its own contribution. A number of Ragas bear the territorial names of Gujarat such as Gujaqri Todi, Bilaval (from Veraval), Sorathi, (from Sorath), Khambavati (from Khambhat, Cambay), Ahiri and Lati. These are invaluable gifts of Gujarat to the classical music of India. Jesingbhai, the creator of the Vichitra Veena, a musical string instrument, was from Ahmedabad. Gujarat has preserved folk music in its pure and pristine form by Charans and Gadhavis, a community whose hereditary profession is folk music and folk arts. Lullaby, Nupital songs, festive songs, Rannade songs are the different types of folk songs in Gujarat. Marsias is a peculiar form of singing at the time of death. The Vaishnava cult in Gujarat has produced a special variety of music which can be classified as temple-music. Besides its contribution to classical and folk music, Gujarat has produced its own folk instruments. Wind type instruments like Turi, Bungal, Pava, String type Ravan Hattho, Ektaro, and Jantar, percussion type like Manjira, Zanz pot drun etc. Stage ArtA typical folk drama of Gujarat called Bhavai is performed in village and temple grounds by professional communities of north Gujarat, the Taragalas, Bhojakas, etc. The word Bhavai is derived from the Sanskrit word "Bhava" meaning expression of emotion. The Bhavai drama is a continuous performance lasting the whole night in which many "veshas" are performed in the open without any stage equipment. These Veshas depict episodes from the social life of the community in the countryside, focusing in satirical or farcical way the characteristics of certain sections- Banias, Bohras, wandering tribes, etc. Continuous playing on the Bhungal, a very long wind brass instrument, before and during the performance calls the rural patrons to the scene of the Bhavai. Women are strictly tabooed from taking part in the Bhavai. Their role is performed by the male artists which makes the entire drama more ridiculous. The repertoire of the Bhavai is limited to about three dozen veshas, the authorship of which is attributed to Asait. FESTIVALSFestivals in Gujarat symbolise people's cultural, social and religious aspirations. They help the people to live a fuller and a better life, remove monotony and provide healthy recreation. They promote unity, fellow-feeling, self-discipline and austerity. Navaratri The festival of nine nights, proceeding the Dussera is a special feature of Gujarat when both males and females congregate in village squares and temple compounds and sing and dance. The festival ends on the Dussera day, when artisans worship their instruments, agriculturists their ploughs, warriors their weapons and students their books. The Navaratri festival is closely followed by the Sharad Purnima, the full moon night in the Asvina month, when under the moon light people partake of prasad rice and milk. The people of Surat make merry on the Tapi bank. Gujarat has two temples dedicated to two most popular mother goddesses of Gujarat, Amba Mata and Becharji Mata. On Kartika and Chaitra Purnima days and during the Navaratri days, people visit these temples and enjoy Gujarati's typical folk drama, the Bhavai. Diwali Asvina is a month which marks the end of the harvesting season. This month ends with Diwali which is a four-day festival. The first day of the festival starts with the Laxmi Puja. The second day is considered as the day of the casting off evils. The third day is the main Diwali day. On this day every home is illuminated and decorated. The fourth and the last day is the New year day for the Gujarati's when people visit temples in colourful costumes and greet each other. The day following the new year day is called the Bhai bij day when brothers are invited by their sisters to partake of sweets with them. The full moon day of the Kartika month, with its preceding eleventh (ekadashi) day is called the Dev-Diwali. On these days the of the Tulsi plant with the Shaligram, symbolising Lord Vishnu, is celebrated in every Hindu home in Gujarat. It also marks the termination of the Chaturmans(fast), observance of four months of rainy season, during which Hindus, mostly ladies, miss a meal on every Ekadashi day and the ascetics do not move about. Kite festival Festival, another festival in Gujarat is observed on the 14th of January, the day when the sun enters the tropic of cancer. On this day young boys and girls and even the old people, are on their house tops . This is really a national festival for Gujarat. Know more Holi Like the Diwali, the spring festival of Holi on the full moon day in the month of Phalguna has a universal appeal. While Diwali marks the end of the monsoon and therefore the season of the Kharif crop, the Holi festival marks the agricultural season of the Rabi crop. During the entire period between June and October, when most of the countryside is engaged in agriculture, the festivals are mostly days of austerity, Penance and fasting. The period includes the Gauri Puja, the Janmashtami, the Nag Panchami the Paryushan and the Ganesha Chaturthi. Many of Gujarat's festivals are mostly celebrated by women. No festival except the Balev, when Brahmins change their sacred threads, is exclusive to any particular community or section. Even on the Balev, sisters tie Rakhi on their brother's wrist wishing them happy life. Gujarat also celebrates festivals like the Ramnavami, the Sivaratri and the Mahavir Jayanyti. Gauri puja is observed by young, unmarried girls, who fast and pray for getting 'suitable husbands'. The Savitri Vrata is observed by a women. They worship the banyan tree and offer their thanks giving for their happy married life . Muslims in Gujarat have their festivals, such as the Moharrum, the prophet's day and the Id days. Similarly Parsis celebrate their new year day Pateti. The Christmas, the New year day and Easter are observed by the Christians. FAIRSThe fairs in Gujarat are generally associated with some religious festival. Most of the fairs in Gujarat are held on riversides (River Narmada in Baroda and Broach districts) or near confluences of rivers, sacred ponds and reservoirs or on hillsides, sea shores or in pilgrim centres, either in Chaitra ( March/ April) or Kartika months on full moon days. Fairs on the full moon days in the month of Chaitra are held at Chandod and at Karnali in Baroda district and at Shuklatirth in Broach district in month of Kartika. The fair held on the full moon day of the Kartika at the confluence of seven rivers near the village Vautha, in the Ahmedabad district is the most colourful one when people from far and near collect and have a holy dip in the confluence. The fair at Shamlaji in the Sabarkantha district is a great occasion of mirth where Adivasis in thousands gather. The Tarnatar fair in the village of Tarnetar in Surendranagar district celebrated in the honour of Lord Shiva on the 4th, 5th and 6th days of the bright half of the month of Bhadrapada ( August/ September) is also a similar joyous occasion. Muslims have also their fairs, held at their sacred places. Know more Madhavrai Fair at Madhavpur near Porbandar is held to celebrate the marriage by elopement of Lord Krishna and Rukmini, on the 9th day of the bright half of the month of Chaitra ( March/ April ). Ambaji Fair dedicated to Amba, Mother goddess is held in Banaskantha district. A big annual fair during Janmashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna is celebrated at Dwaraka and Dakor with great enthusiasm. The Urs at Shah Alam Roza in Ahmedabad and at Miran Datar in the Mehsana district are most important fairs for them.
GUJARATI DISHES Mostly vegetarian, Gujarati cuisine is delightfully delicious with a combination of leafy vegetables and pulses subtly flavoured with spices to the accompaniment of rice and a variety of breads. The typical Gujarati meal basically bland, served traditionally on large silver or stainless steel platters; thali consists of one variety of dal, Kadhi- a curd preparation, two to three vegetables and pulses, salad savories, sweets, puri or chappati, rice chutneys, hot pickles and papad. There are slight differences in the modes of preparation and eating habits in the main three geographical regions of Kutch, Saurashtra (kathiawad) and Surat. In contrast to the majority of Hindus who are pure vegetarians, the Bohras, a community of Muslim traders, are famous for their beef preparations and a variety of soups. Some common delicacies include 'Khaman Dhokla', a salty steamed cake, 'Oondhiya' a vegetarian dish with potato, brinjal, green beans and other vegetables, 'Khichdi' a mixture of lentil and rice, 'Kadhi' curd with bay leaves, 'Debra' flour mixed with spinach and yoghurt etc. Gujarati 'farsans' or crunchy fried snacks like Chakli, Sev Ganthia and sweets like Doodh Pak, Gharis, Nankhatais etc are also delicious.
TOURISMGujarat, the ‘Jewel of the West,’ is a that offers something for every visitor. The state situated between 20o1' and 24o7' north latitudes and 68o4' and 74o4'east longitudes is bounded on the west by the Arabian sea which encloses the state on three sides, on the north-west by Pakistan, on the north by Rajasthan, on the east by Madhya Pradesh and on the south and south-east by . A journey through Gujarat unfolds a religious, cultural and historical panorama. The state with the longest coast line (1290km) in the country is renowned for its beaches, holy temples, historic capitals replete with immense architectural assets, and hill resorts. Religious spots include Dwaraka, Somanath, Pawagadh, Ambaji, Bhadreswar, Shamlaji, the temples at Taranga, Girnar and Palitana with around 800 temples spread on the sacred Shetrunjaya hill and the oldest fire temple of the Parsees at Udwada. The places of memorable monuments of architectural and archeological splendour include the Sun temple at Modhera, 5000 year old architectural finds at Lothal, and the monuments at Ahmedabad, Patan, Siddhpur Ghumli, Dabhoi, Vadnagar etc; beautiful beaches include the ones at Ahmadpur- Mandvi with its ethnic and at Chorwad, Ubharat and Tithal; Porbander, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and his national shrine at Sabarmathi, the hill station at Saputara and game sanctuary at Gir, the last of the Asiatic Lions and the Wild ass sanctuary in the Kachch area are some of the major and varied attractions in the state. Along with its varied , the attractive handicrafts, the delicious cuisine and colourful lifestyle of the people of Gujarat, add to its charm. As the Tropic of passes through the northern border of Gujarat, the state has an intensely hot or cold climate. But the Arabian sea and the Gulf of Cambay in the west and the forest covered hills in the east soften the rigors of climatic extremes. The best time to visit Gujarat is during the months of October and March. How to get there Air: Rail : Road : Tourist Offices and Facilities
|
|