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Places
to see in Gujarat
Temples and religious sites
Dwarkanath Temple is situated at Dwarka and is one of the important
temples dedicated to lord Krishna.It is on the tip of the Arabian
Sea and is famous for being the legendary home of Lord Krishna, the
eighth Avatara of Vishnu, hero of the Mahabharata epic. Ancient
ruins of a city and temple complex found underwater suggest a
historical basis for the legend. The Rann of Kutchch covers a large
portion of western Gujarat, and is world-famous for its rare
ecosystem, fossils, wildlife and terrain.
Palitana Temples are a complex of Jain temples situated 51 km south
west of Bhavnagar. There are 863 temples from base to the peak of
the Shatrunjaya hill, where the Palitana temples are located.
Somnath Temple located in the Prabhas Kshetra near Veraval in
Saurashtra, on the western coast of Gujarat, India is one of the
twelve Jyotirlings (golden lingas)or symbols of the God Shiva. It is
mentioned in the Rig Veda. Somnath means "The Protector of Moon
God". The Somnath Temple is known as 'the Shrine Eternal', as the
temple has been destroyed six times, but was rebuilt on each
occasion.
Modhera Sun Temple is famous for its rare position as specifically
and uniquely designed for the worship of the Sun, Lord Surya. While
the main temple is beautifully and intricately designed with complex
architecture, painting and sculptures, there is a central pond and
surrounding it stand 108 small temples for each of the Sun God's 108
names.
Shankheshwar Jain Temples are dedicated to the 23rd Tirthankar, Lord
Parshvanath. It is believed that this idol was revealed by Lord
Krishna himself, by the teachings of Arisht Nemi the 22nd
Tirthanakra. It is near Ahmedabad.
Patan houses 84 magnificent Jain Temples built by Samrat Kumarpal,
who was a staunch disciple of Hemchandracharya, a jain monk.
Girnar is an epitome of communal harmony & amicable relations among
jains & Hindus. This high-rising steep hill houses shrines of both
major religions. One dedicated to Neminath or Arisht Nemi, the 22nd
tirthankara, where he is believed to attain nirvana, and another
dedicated to Guru Dattatreya,a Hindu deity.
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Fairs =============
Festivals Makar Sankranti
and Kite Flying Festival (January)
It takes place in mid January and marks the time when the Sun’s
direct rays reach the Tropic of Capricorn, after the winter
solstice. It is celebrated with lots of folk music and dance as well
as kite flying. People of Ahmedabad in numbers beyond all
comprehension gather on terraces to fly kites of various colours to
celebrate Makar Sanskranti or Uttrayana, the welcome to the sun
after the cold winter months. The atmosphere at the festival is
electrifying-glass strengthened threads of the Indian fighter kites
are matched against each other in the air, and the kite fighter who
cuts the other thread is the victor. At night, the activity does not
end-kites with Chinese type lanterns are flown and held aloft,
looking like bright twinkling stars. Typical food like Undiya, sugar
cane juice and local sweets are served to celebrate the day. To
promote the festival, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat organises a
kite festival, with kite fighting matches, other competitions and
exhibitions by kite flying clubs from the world over. Local
sightseeing tours for members of kite flying clubs and tourists are
organised before and after the festival. A trip to the Kite museum
at Paldi, which is one of the few of it's kind in the world with
over 100 kites collected by Bhanu Shah is part of the festival
package.
Dance Festival -Modhera (January)
Resting on a knoll in the village of Modhera, the ruins of the 11th
century Sun Temple are an impressive sight. The outer walls of the
temple are covered with sculptures in which the figures of Lord
Surya, the sun god are prominent. The Sun Temple is the site of an
annual festival of Indian classical dances organized by the Tourism
Corporation of Gujarat. The idea is to present classical dance forms
in an atmosphere they were originally presented in. The Kutch
Mahotsav (Feb-March)
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, all organized by the Gujarat Tourism.
Tours are also conducted, out to the ruins of Dhola Vera, a city
that was once a part of the Indus Valley civilization.
Holi (March)
Essentially a spring festival, there are several accounts of how
Holi came to be celebrated . By one account demoness Hoda was killed
by children, reducing her on a heap which was then lighted, thereby
circumventing her boon of immortality. Another version treats it as
day when child Krishna had sucked the demoness Putna to death. In
yet another version which is popular in Gujarat, Pralhad, the son of
the demon King Hiranyakashyap had emerged unhurt from the heap of
fire he was made to sit on, in the lap of Holika, who got burnt
instead. Thus on a full moon day of Phalgun Sud 15 Holi is
celebrated to commemorate the event of one's belief. It is done by
lighting a bonfire of wood and cowdung which is erected in a conical
shape over a small pit which is dug at the bottom. Such fires are
lit on almost all important cross-sections of roads or in the chowk
of the villages. Elders predict the coming monsoon on the basis of
the direction in which the flag planted atop falls. Devotees offer
coconut to the fire and the youth retrieve them amidst an applause
of bystanders.
It is also the principal religious festival of Adivasis in Gujarat.
They abandon work and indulge in ceaseless folk dancing. The girls
observe this festival by growing wheat in the bamboo baskets filled
with earth and manure. In some tribes people indulge in the fowlest
of abuse and mock fights.
Dhuleti (March)
The next day after Holi is Dhuleti or Dhuli Padvo. Literally it
means throwing of mud, the practice which has given way to throwing
of vermilion. At times the merrymaking lapses into unhindered
revelry as youngsters indulge into throwing paste colours, not only
on their friends but also on strangers taking advantage of the
permissiveness granted on the occasion. As noted earlier Adivasis
truly celebrate this festival. In the villages of Panchmahals
Adivasi men play a martial game known as Gol-Gadheda in which the
women after snatching a shoulder scarf from a man, ties it on a tree
top with a lump of molasses. It is the job of the man to retrieve it
from there not an easy task as the tree is vigorously guarded by
women. The game goes on till one of the men succeed in securing the
bundle. Such is the boundless merrymaking of the day.
Mahuram (April)
Mahuram is the date when Muslims commemorate the death of Prophet’s
grandson, Hussain. The highlight of this Muslim festival is the
Tazia procession, which includes acrobats, drummers and singers.
Miniature replicas of the martyr’s tomb are carried during the Tazia
procession. The Tazia is made of bamboo and tinsel, and are double
storied dome structures. There is competition among participants to
offer the best Tazia, acrobatics, music and gymnastics. Tazia is a
Persian term for weeping, and devout followers beat their chests to
express grief. The Shiya Muslims fast for 10 days during the
festival.
Janmashtami (August)
Janmashtami, the day Shri Krishna was born is celebrated with great
devotion at the Jagat Mandir a temple built 1400 years ago in Dwarka.
Devotees throng in thousands to celebrate this joyous occasion. Rows
of lights are lit everywhere, kirtans and bhajans (devotional songs)
are sung, sermons are delivered and Krishna is worshipped in his
infant form. The temple of Ahmedabad the pilgrim towns of Dakore &
Dwarka, the fairs of Bayayali & Dwarka, all throng with devotees of
the great Lord Krishna. For celebrating Janmashtami the rituals
begin on the previous day with fasting, prayers and celebrations.
Rath Yatra (August - September)
It is said in the Bhagvath Purana that Kansa had sent Akrur to Gokul
for bringing Sri Krishna to Mathura as Krishna had left with his
brother Balram by a chariot leaving behind the Gopis and Gopals
weeping, the day is celebrated in remembrance of this most touching
separation and farewell.
The mammoth procession of Rath Yatra at Ahmedabad is the biggest in
Gujarat. It starts from the Jagdish Mandir situated in the Jamalpur
area of the city early in the morning. There are three separate
chariots for the idols of Krishna, Balram and their sister Subhadra.
The chariots resemble those at Jagannath Puri and are adorned with
garlands. Music bands and Bhajan Mandlis lead the procession.
Decorated elephants also move with the procession and gymnasts and
acrobats perform astonishing feats. Numerous sadhus of all
Vaishnavite sects and devotees join in this procession headed by the
Mahant of Jagannath Temple.
Raksha Bandhan (August - September)
This festival has a threefold significance. It is the day on which
Brahmins change their sacred thread, Sisters tie Rakhi to their
brothers, and Sea Faring communities worship the sea. On Shravan Sud
15 when the moon is in the constellation of Shravan, the Brahmins,
while changing their sacred thread, rededicate themselves to study
the Vedas and pursue spiritual upliftment. Whereas generally the day
celebrated by all sections of the Hindu society as a day dedicated
to love of sisters for their brothers. The practise of tying the
rakhi or the protective knot symbolizing the good wishes, has been
an ancient one. Kuntamata of Mahabharat had tied rakhi to her
grandson Abhimanyu. Another important historic incident narrates how
the queen Jhorabai of Mewad summoned the help of Emperor Humayun
against the invading forces of Gujarat Sultan by sending him a rakhi.
The day is also celebrated as Nariyeli Poonam in the coastal areas
of the State. The sea farers worship the sea by offering coconuts
and set sail after the monsoon break.
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 here. On this occasion, a large fair is organized
on full moon days. In the evening, performances of Bhavai, the folk
drama of the state is held and Garba programmes are organized. The
devout attend readings of the Saptashati, the seven hundred verses
in praise of the goddess and visit the temple for a darshan
(worship) of her. The Ambaji shrine is the principal shrine of the
goddess in Gujarat and its origins are still unknown. The Temple of
Ambaji is recognized as one of the original Shakti Pithas (religious
texts) where, according to the ancient Scriptures, the heart of the
goddess Ambaji fell to earth when her body was dismembered. A
triangular Vishwa Yantra, inscribed with figures and the syllable 'Shree'
in the centre, represents the deity. There is no idol, which in fact
testifies the temple's antiquity. Idol worship became popular much
later.
Navratri (September-October)
Navratri, meaning nine nights is a colourful and ancient festival
honouring the Mother Goddess- the Divine Shakti who supports the
entire universe, protects worshippers, destroys evil and grants
boons to her children. The mother goddess has seven well-known
forms, including Kali one of her fiercest manifestations. Navratri
is held annually in September-October and is celebrated with joy and
religious fervour. An interesting feature of Navratri is the Garba
and the Dandia-Ras dances. The costumes worn for the dances are
traditional and extremely colourful. These dances start very late at
night and end in the early hours of the morning. Ahmedabad is one of
the greatest places to enjoy Navratri. All kinds of Rasa-Garbas,
Dandia ras etc. are practiced in this period, feasting and fasting
are important cultural aspects of this day, and various rituals are
performed at temples of the 9 Goddesses of Hinduism. The atmosphere
is electric and revelry is in the air.
Dussehra (September-October)
Dussehra, a ten-day festival in September-October is symbolic of the
triumph of good over evil.
Diwali (October-November)
The last day of the Hindu year of the Vikram era is celebrated as
Diwali or festival of lights all over the State. According to the
Purana, Lord Vishnu had rescued Goddess Lakshmi from the hold of
King Bali on this day. It is also believed that on this day Lord
Rama returned to Ayodhya. Sathia(Swastik) and Rangoli (making of
attractive designs by coloured powder) marks every courtyard with
rows and rows of earthen lamps lighting up the surrounding area and
giving a special touch of festivity. Merchants worship Goddess
Lakshmi and the books of accounts. At night firecrackers of various
types are burnt by youngsters. The next day or Kartik Sud 1, the
first of the Hindu calendar is celebrated as New Years Day with
great solemnity.
Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh is remembered on chauth or chaturthi, the 4th day of every
month of the Hindu calendered, but most of all on Ganesh Chaturthi
which is celebrated as his birthday. Ladoos are distributed on the
day-by tradition ladoos were placed in different corners of the
house and eaten before the meal. Milk is offered to idols of lord
Ganesh at home and at temples, and Ganesh puja is performed at all
temples and hi-house prayer rooms. Fasting, feasting and
distribution of sweets offered to Lord Ganesh are important aspects
of Ganesh chaturthi rituals in India. Hindus pray to images of Lord
Ganesha, large and small, many of them made specially for the
occasion by cottage industries and street side artisans, and those
that do not wish to keep the idols alive by daily prayers, offerings
and lighting oil lamps, immerse them in the nearest water body (all
rivers, lakes and the sea which are sacred to Hindus). Centuries ago
during a war between the Gods and the Demons, Lord Shiva was away
for a long time. His wife, Goddess Parvati, afraid of being alone
for an extended period used her divine powers and created a son,
Ganesh, and gave him the responsibility of protecting the house.
When Lord Shiva and his army, returned victorious to his home,
Parvati was in her bath, and Ganesh had been strictly instructed not
to allow anyone in. Angered by Ganesh's refusal to allow him in to
the house, Lord Shiva and his army chopped off the boy's head. When
Parvati came out of her bath, she was shocked and grieved to see her
son dead. Lord Shiva, to pacify, her proclaimed that the head of
Ganesh would be replaced by that of the first creature that came up
the hill. As luck would have it the first visitor to the hill was an
elephant and his head was promptly cut off and placed on that of
Lord Ganesh, and life was restored to the son of Lord Shiva and
goddess Parvati. To pacify his wife further and compensate for the
act of killins own son, Lord Shiva bestowed upon Ganesh the powers
of a God and blessed him that henceforth no activity will begin
without invoking your name and blessings. Since then, it is said, no
new venture - the inauguration of accompany, the opening of a shop,
the foundation of a building, entering a new home - is deemed
complete by Hindus without a Ganesh puja.
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