Festivals of Gujarat

-Purvi Gupta

The festivals of Gujarat are filled with vibrancy and colors. In today’s time even people from outside visit Gujarat to witness the beautiful festivals of Gujarat like Navratri, Uttrayan etc. And the Rann Utsav the major festival is a carnival of music, dance, art. And no doubt why Gujarat is named as “the land of festivals”.

Let’s talk about the three most famous festivals of Gujarat.

Whenever we talk about Gujarat and its festivals the only thing that comes to our mind is Navaratri and garba. This is most famous and most celebrated festival even outside the India, which is celebrated for nine days. Navaratri is filled with decorations, dance, music, food.

Rann Utsav is the famous festival of Kutch, organized by Gujarat tourism. This festival has always grabbed the attention of travelers from across the world to witness this festival and also explore the unique places of Kutch. The Kutch festival includes everything from music, dance to cultural activities, food to handicrafts and much more. This festival is celebrated at the Rann of Kutch spread across 7, 500 square km and which is why it is known as the Kutch festival. Ran Utsav is a three-day festival. And this festival is celebrated at various locales of Kutch. Rann Utsav is a mixed representation of culture and communities.

Makar Sankranti or uttrayan is also one of the most famous festivals of Gujarat where people fly kites(patang). And the most famous dish eaten during this festival is undhiyu, a dish made from various vegetables.  And this festival is dedicated to the god- SUN. uttrayan is named as the kite festival in Gujarat. And it is also the most celebrated festival of the season winter. During this festival one can witness the worshipping of God – sun, cow, art and crafts and even celebrated with music and dance.