Gujarat

About Gujarat and its history

Gujarat is a state in the North-West coast of India. It is known locally as Jewel of the West. It has an area of 196,204 km2 .The state is bordered by Rajasthan to the north, Maharashtra to the south, Madhya Pradesh to the east, and the Arabian Sea on the west. Its capital city is Gandhinagar, it is the largest city is Ahmadabad . Historically, the state of Gujarat has been one of the main centers of the Indus Valley Civilization. It contains major ancient metropolitan cities from the Indus Valley such as Lothal , Dholavira , and Gola Dhoro . The ancient city of Lothal was where India's first port was established. Also, Dholavira, the ancient city, is one of the largest and most prominent archaeological sites in India. The most recent discovery was Gola Dhoro. All together, about 50 Indus Valley settlement ruins have been discovered in Gujarat. The early history of Gujarat is full of imperial grandeur of Chandragupta Maurya who conquered a number of earlier states of Gujarat

Gujarat culture

Festivals
Other than those festivals observed throughout India, there are festivities specific to Gujarat. Makar Sankranti and Kite Flying Festival (14 January) The Kite Flying Festival takes place in mid January and marks the time when the Suns direct rays reach the Tropic of Capricorn . People of Gujarat gather on terraces to fly kites of various colours to celebrate Makar Sanskranti. Glass strengthened threads of the Indian fighter kites are matched against each other in the air the kite fighter who cuts the other thread is the victor Dance Festival Modhera (January) Resting on a knoll in the village of Modhera are the ruins of the 11th century Sun Temple. The outer walls of the temple are covered with sculptures in which the figures of Surya, the sun god, are prominent. The Sun Temple is the site of an annual festival of Indian classical dances. The Kutch Mahotsav (FebruaryMarch) The Kutch Festival or the Rann festival is celebrated at the time of the Shiv Ratri in February/ March. The centre of the festival is Bhuj in Kutch. It has crafts, fairs and folk dances and music and cultural shows. Bhadra Purnima (September) The full moon of Bhadrapad is one of the four most important festival days of the year when farmers and agriculturists come to Ambaji, a place that derives its name from Goddess Ambaji, whose shrine is located there. In the evening, performances of Bhavai, the folk drama of the state, is held and Garba programmes are organized.

Gujarati dances
Dandiya Raas Dandiya Raas is a romantic, very energetic, colorful and playful dance originating in the state of Gujarat. Its roots lay from the days of Lord Krishna who played raas on the shores of Yamuna river on a moonlit night with his beloved Gopis. Men and women dressed in colorful clothes dance in two concentric circles - one moving clockwise, one moving counterclockwise. Men and women carry two bamboo sticks called dandiyas in their hands. Garba Garba is a very graceful form of dance mainly performed by females in a circular formation, it is in reverences of goddess Ambaji. The basics of the dance are singing and clapping rhythmically while going around the goddess. Today many modifications are prevalent to the basic pattern and even men are free to join in. Women are dressed in exquisitely embroidered, set in mirrors cholis, ghaghras and bandhani dupattas! Extensive jewelry in the form of necklaces, bracelets and anklets are also worn. The typical dress code of men is kehediyu, chudidar and a turban. Garbi Originally men used to perform this dance. It was on the way back from a battle that the victorious army would start dancing to couplets and amorous songs sung by the Charanswar, or the narrators who used to go to the front to raise the spirit during the battle by singing songs of valor. The dance was characteristic for its forceful movements which would fascinate viewers.

Padhar It is performed by a rural community living around Nal Lake. In it, performers simulate the rhythmic movements of roving mariners and the undulating sea waves. The Bhil tribes, who live close to border tracts, and the Adivasis of Dangs district, have particularly lively folk dances.

Gujarati engagement ceremony

In many Gujarati communities, the engagement ceremony is known as Gol Dhana , which literally means "Jaggery and Coriander seeds" and refers to the practice of distributing a small amount of jaggery mixed with coriander seeds.

Gujarati Hindu wedding ceremony

Marriage is a highly auspicious occasion in the Indian culture. According to the Vedas, the Hindu scriptures, marriage is a sacred lifelong commitment between a man and a woman. It is considered to be the strongest of all social bonds and is the initiation into a lifetime of togetherness. The Vedic wedding ceremony consists of prayers, invocations, and vows recited in Sanskrit, the most ancient surviving language. The Vedic wedding ceremony dates back to over five thousand years. The ceremony is performed under a decorated canopy, the Mandap. The four pillars that surround the Mandap represent the four parents. This signifies the important part they have played in raising their children to become the responsible adults they are today. The ceremony is performed before a sacred fire, or Agni, which is the eternal witness of the marriage and all vows taken.

Languages
Gujarat is inhabited by people belonging to varied castes, religions and communities. Due to that, a number of varied languages are spoken in the state. The official language of the state is Gujarati. It is an Indo-Aryan language derived from Sanskrit. Gujarati is the 26th-most widely spoken language in the world. In addition, it has eleven dialects, spoken in different parts of the state. Gujarat shares its borders with the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Therefore, there is a small population which speaks the respective languages of the different states also, namely Marwari, Hindi, and Marathi. Apart from this, Urdu and Sindhi are also spoken in Gujarat. Kachchh is one of the important areas in the state. It has an independent identity and is growing popular amongst tourists. The mother tongue of the people of Kutch is Kachchi. It is an important language of the region.

Gujarati cinema
Gujarati cinema celebrated its 75th year anniversary in 2007. Although Gujarati cinema has not given the Indian movie house the honor and joy the Bengali and Malayalam films have provided, it has its own share of glory. Gujarati film started its journey in 1922 and during its run since then to this day it has much to state. From mythology to history, social to political, Gujarati cinema has experimented with such stories and issues all these years. Gujarat has immense contribution to the Bollywood in the form of sending actors and actresses of fame to make the base of Hindi films.

Religions in Gujarat
Hinduism
Gujarat is a part of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization. Many Hindu religious traditions developed in Gujarat. Gujarat is the birthplace of Lord Shiva's

Bhakti movement
The Bhakti movement was very popular in Gujarat where devotees of both Islam and Hinduism focused worship of God, trying to rid any separations based on faith in God.

Gujarati Muslims
The term "Gujarati Muslim" is usually used to signify an Indian Muslim from the State of Gujarat who speaks the Gujarati language as a mother-tongue and follows certain customs different from the rest of Indian Muslims. Gujarat was one of the first places the Muslims came to India. The Sufi saints are very popular in Gujarat.

CRAFTS OF GUJARAT
Gujarat is one of the most vibrant states of India and has a glorious cultural heritage. The art and crafts are preserved and are even practiced widely across the state. The handicrafts of Gujarat are famous for their color scheme, detail and intricate work and artistic appearance.

some of the art and crafts that are still done in Gujarat are :SCULPTURE AND MINIATURE PAINTING, CALLIGRAPHY , MUSIC AND STAGE ART , DANCE , WOOD CARVING , STONE CARVING , METAL WORK , POTTERY , PRINTING AND EMBRIODERY , Etc.