Travel To Gujrat

White is the, colour of the sand, Blend It with the colourful culture and fed the magic.......

Rann Utsav From: 15th Dec. 2012 to 31 Jan. 2013 Gujarat, India......

There are few things in life as colourful as the Rann (desert)- yes even in barrenness, lies a riot of colours that comes from the people who live in the Rann, their costumes, their rituals, their way of life and their undying spirit. The Rann of Kutch, the great white salt Rann that is unique to India, is a lesson in diversity. To capture this spirit of the Rann, Gujarat Tourism organises Rann Utsav, a carnival held every year.

The Rann Utsav, or the Desert Festival, is a fourty five - day grandiose carnival organised in Kutch. The celebrated festival begins in the Bhuj city and it is a winter journey to celebrate its ethnic diversity and culture. During the full moon night of the winters amid the awe-inspiring and contrasting landscape each year, this festive extravaganza brimming with hospitality, vigor and traditional flavor of the area is hosted. People from far and near gather during the festivities of Rann Utsav to celebrate and salute the spirit and warmth that people of Kutch have inherited and protected. There are numerous cultural activities organised during Rann Utsav that engage all visitors. Semi parched Grasslands of theio Banni hosts the most magnificent display of vernacular architecture as the exhibition platform for the varied range of arts and crafts of the region. This provides a testimony to the amazing contrasting nature that Kutch boasts of, where on one side, there is beautiful Rann (desert) and on the other we can witness grasslands.

Moreover, an array of folk music and dance performances organised in the shimmering moonlit landscape provides the most enchanting experience. The colorful fairs held near the beach or the banks of a lake swings one with the spirit of festivity, fervor and flamboyancy while the organised tour around Kutch is an ideal occasion to be a part of the region and experience the zeal and uniqueness of the people through a celebration of life!

And this is not all. During this carnival, one can also explore the other breathtaking sites of Kutch in the form of beautiful monuments like Aina Mahal, Parag Mahal Palace, Vijay Vilas Palace, Koteshwar, Lakhpat Fort, etc. Kutch also boasts of a wonderful scenic beauty and one can experience that at Mandvi beach, Narayan Sarovar, Dasada, Kalo Dungar and Bhujiya Dungar. Dholavira is one of the most remarkable excavations of the Indus Valley civilization, dating back to approx. 2500 B.C. Kutch also serves as a habitat to the last remaining population of Asiatic wild ass. There is also a large population, of migratory birds, particularly flamingoes. Thus, it serves as a perfect destination for any tourist to enjoy this wonderful festive blend of ethnic arts, handicrafts, music and dance. And this is the reason, why thousands of tourists from all over the world, flock during this festival.

Tents with all the modern facilities are set up for visiting guests, traditional Kutchi food is prepared for their meals and every evening, artistes entertain them on the stages built in the Rann. Gujarat is known for its hospitality and this is the best way of getting a taste of that fabled hospitality.

So, come to Rann Utsav and experience the scenic vistas with ethnic culture and diversity.

Vibrant Colours of !!!!!!!!!

Gujarat 's Navratri...........

Navratri, the festival of nine nights.........

Navratri is one of the world's longest and most participatory dance festivals. Perhaps only the Goddesses of the Hindu pantheon know how many millions dance, sing, pray and fast to evoke their blessings on the nine nights of Navratri across Gujarat. Regardless of their religion, age or dancing skills anyone can be a part of the Garba and Dandiya. Come Ashwin Sud, the costumed men and women will be on the streets of Gujarat dancing at street corners, residential localities, clubs and colleges. It is a social event and community activity with everyone becoming a part of the event.The whole atmosphere is one of revelry for the nine nights leading to the eve of Dusshera, when Durga is said to have defeated the demon, Mahishasura and Rama is believed to have defeated Ravana.

Worship, not in the form of hushed chants or reverent humility, but in a if burst of dance - that is Navratri. There is no other place in India that celebrates this festival with as much gusto as Gujarat does. Only here do the celebrations spread over nine days and nights, each dedicated to a. one of the nine avatars of Goddess Amba, the divine manifestation of  power. Each night, people drenched in infectious fervour gather in open spaces to be a part of a hypnotic, circular folk dance - Garba. Together, dressed in their colourful attires, the dancers present a kaleidoscopic spectacle. One can never witness such a blissful rendezvous between revelry and worship anywhere else. But, dance is just one of the many ways of celebration.'Bhavai' - a unique drama form is also performed by a troupe of male artistes for an exclusively female audience, across villages. Where else have you seen such chivalry? All dance and drama but no delicacies will make the celebration a hungry affair, won't it? After nine days of fasting, the faithful indulge in the lip-smacking salty Fafda and sweet Jalebi, on the tenth day known as Dusshera. It's a strange feeling when you pen down words knowing well they won't be able to fully describe what they are supposed to. Such is the magnificence of the Navratri celebrations in Gujarat. So, visit Gujarat and revel in the only celebration which has strong elements of the religious, devotional, cultural and recreational - all in one occasion.

The Attires and Ornaments !!!!!!!!!!

For Chaniya Choli sets, visit Asopalav, Deepkala, Rupkala and Radhika stores that have a presence in big cities like Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Surat, while Jade Blue is good for A a) ' traditional men's wear. Boutiques like Bandhej in Ahmedabad also turn out good Chaniya Cholis. Ratan Pol in the walled city of• — Ahmedabad, where you canget dresses and jewellery for the Garba nights, is a (favourite. Ajanta Shopping Centre on Ashram Road and the boutique stores of CG Road should also be explored. Ramakda Market near Teen Darwaja in Ahmedabad is a good place to look for dandiya sticks and decorations. At night, the youth is out enjoying food across the city. 24 hour coffee shops at hotels on SG Road and Satellite Road in Ahmedabad or Sayaji Gunj and Alkapuri in Vadodara record brisk sales. Street food places of Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Bhuj, etc. stay open till midnight.

Rhythmic Dance Forms!!!!!!!!!!!

The best known is the Garba of the women performed in a circle with the dancers swinging to the Tal or beat. The fire in the garbi symbolises fertility and the mother Goddesses are worshipped as bearers of life. The word Garba is derived from the Sanskrit word Garbadeep, which means a light inside a pot.Women dance balancing the garbi or mandvi on their head. Dandiya Raas is a group dance deriving its name from the dandiya struck together. Raasda is performed by men and women with clap of hands, snapping of fingers or movement of feet to the drumming of dholaks. Tippani involves beating the ground with a stick, earlier used by construction workers to keep the mud floors even. Hudo is the folk dance form of Bharwad, Gujarat's shepherd community. In the Matki dance, the women of the tribes carry the matkis balanced on their heads. Bhavai is one folk theatre form of Gujarat meant for worshipping. The Nayak community is known to perform the ancient Bhavai form, the most widely used form for mass communication travelling from village to village.

Folk dances of Gujarat include famous dance forms like Garba, Dandiya, Bhavai, Tippani, Hudo, among others. These dance forms are very energetic, colourful and soulful and truly reflect the essence of vibrant Gujarat.