“Kutch Adventures
India”
(Largest district of
India where culture and traditions rules)
Dear readers,
Namaste and very warm greetings, straight
from the Great Rann of Kutch :-)
Many of you might not have heard of Kutch region, once upon a
time where ancient Indus valley
civilisation flourished 2000 B.C. Some of you might know the name of my
country India derived from the river Indus, daughter of Himalaya merges
to the Arabian Sea. Until 1819 it was flowing through Kutch but due to major
earthquakes in 1819 in this region, the course of River Indus shifted from
Kutch (India) to Pakistan and what left behind was the Great Rann of Kutch. Once
what was the vast river bed is now turned in to the great salty marshland
covering more than 23000 sq. km of area.
The Great Rann of Kutch is not only geographically impressive but also known
for its rich desert traditions which go some hundreds years back when people
from Sindh,
Persia, Rajasthan and Gujarat migrated and settled here since then.
They brought their rich culture and traditions to Kutch with them and today’s
Kutch reveals their great cultural backgrounds which includes embroideries they
do, costumes they wear, dialect they speak and some other regional influences
they adapted during their migration. In the middle of the Great Rann of Kutch,
very interesting area called “Banni Grassland” exists where these
communities have been living since 16th century, preserving their
extra ordinary culture & traditions.
All of them are cattle herders who have settled in the Banni when it was
known as rich grassland of Asia due to having stream of River Indus until 1819
when great earthquake shifted the course of river from Kutch. Since then Kutch
faced frequent droughts and these cattle herders were forced to migrate to
green parts of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh (Central India) in search of water
and grass along with their cattle. However these hardships didn’t stop them
practicing their age old arts and craft which goes thousands years back. Block
printing (Ajarakh), Wax printing (Batik), Tie & Dye (Bandhni), Weaving, Bell making, Lacquer work,
Mud work and more than a dozen
different types of embroideries (Mutva,
Ahir, Rabari, Soof to name a few) which are still prospering in this region
and people have deep passion, respect and love for these handicrafts. People in
Banni grassland lives in “Bhunga” – huts made of wood, mud and grass,
wearing most colourful costumes and living semi nomadic life. Though the
industrialization and modernisation are progressing here, yet people living in
Kutch are strongly attached with their roots and that’s why every year
government of Gujarat organizing Desert Festival in the Rann of Kutch
to promote tourism in this region and allow visitors to explore colourful
culture and communities.
Kutch also has some beautiful
beaches also and more than 310 km long coast which was well linked with
Africa and Gulf countries for many years. Even today wooden ship building at Mandvi
is great example of its glorious past and marine trade.
Capital of Kutch-Bhuj is fortified historical town
with some beautiful historical palaces and buildings, temples and central lake.
Aina Mahal (Mirror palace) Kutch museum,
Swaminarayan Temple, Royal Chhatries (Tombs), Bhujiya Hill, are some of the
famous locations. Bhuj is well linked with major cities of Gujarat by road,
rail and air, making it possible for tourists to easily get here. Winter (Dec-March) is the ideal time to explore
this region when an average temperature remains between 15’ C to 28’ C.
If you like to know more about Kutch Adventures India, you can send me email on desert_adventures@yahoo.com or you could also visit following sites:
Love and greetings!
Kuldip Gadhvi
(Spreading waves of
joy, peace and love)
