Surat 

Surat History

Surat is the modern port city of today declare of a great historical and cultural heritage. The history of Surat takes us back to the epic age of Mahabharata and Ramayana. According to mythological beliefs, Lord Krishna stopped in the city while his journey from Mathura to Dwarka.

Surat is mentioned in the Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata when Lord Krishna stopped there en route from Mathura to Dwarka. According to other later Sanskrit records, the area was ruled by the Western Chalukyas in 610 CE, and continued to be ruled by Hindu kings until it was captured by one of the generals of Quá¹­buddÄ«n Aibak. The Parsis started to settle there in the 12th century, and added greatly to its prosperity. In the early centuries during the reign of Rishika Lekhadia, the port of Surat was used as the gateway to Mecca for pilgrims of the Hajj from India’s interior regions. Both the Makkai Pool and the Mughal Sarai guest house for hajjis (pilgrims) are indicators of this historical significance.

Local traditions state that the city was founded in the last years of the fifteenth century by a Brahman named Gopi, who called it Suryapur (City of the Sun). In 1512 and 1530 Surat was burned and ravaged by the Portuguese Empire who were trying to maintain influence in the area. In 1513, the Portuguese traveler, Duarte Barbosa, described Surat as an important seaport, frequented by many ships from Malabar and various parts of the world. By 1520, the name of the city was Surat.

The great explorer Hiuen Tsang referred the Surat City as Sowrata and described it as a business town on the shore of Arabian Sea near Gujarat. The Brahmin Pundits of the thirteenth century called the city as 'Suryapur'. Surat reached the highest point of prosperity during the sixteenth century. The Surat Port was considered important by the European traders. The British and the Portuguese waged battles against each other to gain supreme control over the trading route. The French and the Dutch also arrived in the city with merchandising objectives.

The great Maratha warrior Shivaji attacked the city several times to usurp its wealth. In the beginning of the nineteenth century, the British gained overall control over the city. Since then, the city witnessed plenty of movements and agitations against the English atrocities. It has contributed a lot to the freedom movement of the country. Surat reorganized itself after the independence and soon emerged as one of the significant cities in India.

Life In Surat

People Life in Surat are known for their friendly behavior and cordial attitude. As one of the prime districts of Gujarat, Surat is a flourishing commercial place which houses a large number of industrial units. Brocades and silks of Surat that are given fine motifs and shapes by the craftsmen of the district are in great demand. Not only the people of India but people living in other foreign countries use the silks of Surat in large numbers.

Being a densely populated area, Surat comprises of a fair proportion of males and females. The ethnic population of Surat is a significant element of the geographical structure of the place. People belonging to various religions and faiths are known to inhabit Surat peacefully from a long time.

Gujarati people are in majority in Surat, whereas people of other languages are also found in large numbers in the district. Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christians and different other religious communities live in the land of Surat. During major festivals all the people of Surat celebrate the auspicious occasions with equal enthusiasm and mirth.

People living in the urban pockets of Surat are mainly engaged in business ventures, whereas those staying in the remote corners of Surat earn their livelihood through agricultural activities. Since the quality of soil and the rain patterns are quite suitable for cultivation hence the villagers of Surat prefer to involve in farming operations. The urban areas of Surat are blessed with many textiles units, spice factories and diamond-polishing centers all of which earn handsome revenue every year. This in turn encourages the people living in Surat cities to step into the field of business and commerce.

It can be said that People of Surat are quite popular for their business skill and humane demeanor.

Surat Culture

Surat is an ancient City in the Indian state of Gujarat. The place is also known as India's western gateway because of its strategic position. People of many races from various places have come to Surat from the ancient times, because of which, the city has witnessed a blend of many traditions and cultures. The climate of Surat is mild due to its nearness to the Arabian Sea. There is not much change in the winter and summer temperature, which ranges between 10°C to 38°C. Although one can visit Surat in any season, the best time to do so would be between October and March.

The art and culture of Surat is much diversified and the people here are generally of soft nature. The pleasure loving people of Surat have a very stylish and spirited outlook. The language that is mostly spoken in the Surat City is Surti Gujrati language. The Surti literature is very rich. The people in Surat have keen interest in music and dance. The People in Surat enhance the cheerfulness of any occasion or festival with their traditional songs and dances. They take much pride in their songs, dances and dramas that form an inseparable part of the Surat culture.

Many people refer to the unique culture of Surat as the “Surti Culture”. Surti culture though distinct in its flavor still retains the main essence of the Indian culture. Most residents here are Hindus, though other minority communities like Muslims and Christians are also its residents. Most of the major Hindu festivals are celebrated here but especially the festivals of Navaratri and Diwali along with Makar Sankranti are celebrated with great enthusiasm.

The festival of “Chandi Padvo" is celebrated in Surat alone, and no where else in the country. This is the biggest full moon day of the Hindu calendar year and o this day the Surtis enjoy tasty snacks under the full moon in the open after offering it to the Gods. The people of Surat are full of warmth, hospitality and love for those who visit this town and have a very patient and tolerant nature to wards non-Surtis in general.

Gujarat Tourism ad By Amitabh Bachchan

Aavo Padharo Aavo Padharo, words of welcome in the language of Gujarat because it is here that these words ring truely and the guest is 'God' and the people of Gujarat are gregariously friendly, inviting and will entice you to come again and again. Here in Gujarat you will discover centuries of history as spanning the geological core of the earth onto a fascinatingly vibrant future. Gujarat is unique in its geological and topographical landscape. From volcanic outpourings through bedrock to fossil fields of indegenous dinosaurs; from the art of the neolithic cave painter to the stone masterpieces of a series of civilized architecture. Gujarat has it all. Ancient cave paintings to historic murals, natural and man made caves. Art, history, music, culture, all dovetail within each other to form a wondrous matrix that is the cultural exuberance of the people of the state.

Gujarat

General Information about Gujarat Area 196,024 square kms. Capital Gandhinagar Language Gujarati Districts 25 Population 55,696,629 Male 26,344,053 Female 24,252,939 Literacy 69.97% Best time to Visit: October to March Information about Gujarat Gujarat is one of the most diverse states in India. Gujarat derives its name from the word 'Gujaratta'. Gujaratta means the land of gurjars. The gurjars  were a sub-tribe of the Huns who ruled the area during the 8th and 9th centuries AD. They passed through Punjab and settled in some parts of western India, which came to be known as Gujarat. The state of Gujarat is an industrially advanced state. The state of Gujarat is not a popular tourist destination among foreign and Indian tourists, but still holds an important place in India. Gujarat is bounded by the Arabian Sea in the west, by Rajasthan in the north and northeast, by Madhya Pradesh in the east and by Maharashtra in the south and south east. The state has an international border and has a common frontier with Pakistan at the northwestern fringe. It is situated on the north end of the west coast of India and covers an area of 196,024 square km. Gandhinagar, located near Ahmedabad is the state capital of Gujarat. The people of Gujarat are also known to be a successful business community. At present, Gujarat comprises of 25 districts. The official and primary language spoken is Gujarati. The state of Gujarat is known all over the world for its holy temples, historic capitals, wildlife sanctuaries, beaches, hill resorts, fascinating handicrafts, mouth watering cuisine and colourful lifestyle of the people of Gujarat. This state can also be visited during your trip to Mumbai or Rajasthan. The best time to visit Gujarat is from October to March. History of Gujarat The history of Gujarat dates back to 3500 years. The Harappa and Mohenjodaro civilization can be known from the archaeological findings at Lothal near Dhandauka in Ahmedabad district and Razdi in Saurashtra. The history of Gujarat flows through the dynamic kingdoms and principal states of Saurashtra. According to the legends, the Somnath shore temple was built by Soma, the moon god himself to mark the creation of the Universe. The Lord Krishna’s kingdom was also built at Dwaraka in Gujarat. Gujarat was also present in the exploitation of the great Buddhist emperor Ashoka and his Rock Edicts can be seen near Junagarh. Later, Gujarat also suffered invasions from Mahmud of Ghazni who demolished the Somnath Temple and carried away gold with him. Gujarat was also a battlefield at the time of the war between the Mughals and Marathas. It was also the earliest contact point with the West at Surat where the British set up their first commercial outpost in the 16th century. Daman and Diu, the two small Portuguese enclaves survived within Gujarat for over 450 years till 1961 when these were liberated by the Indian Army. During the British Raj, Gujarat was part of the larger Bombay Presidency and was ruled from Mumbai, and became a separate state in 1960 when the Indian States were divided on the basis of language. More... Geography of Gujarat Geographically, the state of Gujarat is divided into three areas. The mainland region includes the major cities of Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara (Baroda). The Gulf of Mumbai divides the mainland from the flat and barren plains of the Kathiawar Peninsula also known as Saurashtra. Before independence, the Saurashtra region was ruled by about 200 rulers who continued to rule it as they had made peace with the British. Later, these tiny states were merged in the larger state of Bombay Presidency after independence and later merged in the new state of Gujarat. The Gulf of Kutch separates the Saurashtra from Kutch. Kutch is virtually an island cut off from the rest of Gujarat that is wedged between Pakistan in the east and the low-lying Rann of Kutch in the north. More... Climate of Gujarat The best time to visit Gujarat is in the mild winter months from November to March. During the monsoon season, most of the Gujaratis came back to home on leave. The monsoon period has its own charm when the air is cool and the sky is overcasted. The temperature in the Gujarat shows relatively little contrast, but there are great contrasts in the rainfall from South to North. In north, the temperature is about 42 to 43 degree Celsius in summers while in winters it is about 12 degree Celsius. In further south, the winter temperature never fall very far and the summer temperatures are moderate. The rainfall is also scattered throughout the state. The Kutch receives minimum rainfall while Ahmedabad receives moderate rainfall. Economy of Gujarat Agriculture in Gujarat forms a vital sector of the state's economy. It provides the required food grains for the state's population and raw materials for most of the agro-based industries. There was a development of industries like Chemicals, petrochemicals, fertilizers, engineering, electronics etc. With the largest Petro-chemical complex in the country, Gujarat is a major producer of inorganic chemicals such as soda-ash and caustic soda as well as chemical fertilizers. The most remarkable feature of Gujarat's recent industrial development has been the growth of the dairy industry, much of it is conducted on a cooperative basis. More.... People of Gujarat The people of Gujarat or the Gujaratis are known as a successful business community. Some of the famous businessmen and industrialists can be seen operating hotels and motels in California, running stores in Australia and New Zealand and newspaper kiosks in England. Mahatma Gandhi, the father of nation also belongs to Gujarat. He worked for the independence of India through non violence. One of the biggest billionaires of the world, Dhirubhai Ambani was also a Gujarati, who built his empire in three decades. Parsis also belong to this state where they had landed at a place called Sajjan in 745 AD. Many of the Parsis still live here, but some of them have now migrated to Bombay. The Jains are also a very important community in Gujarat. These families own textile and chemical mills and spend lavishly on building new temple and on charities like schools and religious trusts. More... Languages in Gujarat The three important languages of Gujarat are Gujarati, Urdu and Sindhi. There are eleven variants or dialects of Gujarati. The majority of the people of Gujarat speak Gujarati which belongs to the Indo-Aryan family. This language is derived from Sanskrit and other ancient languages. It was also highly influenced by Apabrahmsa, which was widely spoken in the north west India from the 10th to 14th centuries. The maritime contact with Persia, Arabia, Portugal and England further led to the introduction of many words from these languages. Kachchi as a mother tongue was spoken in Kutch. Cuisine of Gujarat The Gujarati food is mostly vegetarian. The dishes of Gujarat are not very spicy and sweet than those of the neighboring states. Some of the popular dishes of Gujarat are Kadhi, Undhyoo and Paunk. The diet of the Gujarati's consists of the rice, chapatis, wide variety of beans and pulses, coconut, pickles and sweetened yoghurt. You can experience all these constituents of the vegetarian Gujarati meal by having a Thali at Vishala, about 5 kms. from Ahmedabad. It is a restaurant and part of a complex is described as a Gujarati village with a small museum, local crafts and performing arts. Besides Vishala, there are various other good restaurants in Ahmedabad which offers the Gujarati food, Chinese and Continental cuisine. More... Fairs & Festivals of Gujarat Various fairs and festivals are celebrated in every month in Gujarat. Some of the main festivals which are celebrated in Gujarat are the Kite Flying Festival or Makar Sankranti, Navaratri Festival, Sarkhej Fair and Tarnetar Fair. The Navratri festival is celebrated during September-October and devoted to the three goddesses of the Hindu mythology. The Kite Flying Festival is celebrated on 14th January. On this day, the people of every age fly kites of various shapes and sizes. More... Handicrafts of Gujarat The handicrafts of the Gujarat are also unique like the Gujarati cuisine. Gujarat also has a rich tradition of high quality weaving, unique Kutch embroidery and hand-block printing, the most common are the tie-and-dye fabrics. These fabrics are known all over the world for their variety and excellent colors. Apart from these fabrics, the hand-painted cloth is also available in traditional black, red, maroon and ochre colors and is also inexpensive. Besides these, you can also buy various items like nut-crackers, silver, wood, brass and other items. The Patola silk sarees are another famous item of Gujarat that are extremely fine and quite expensive and made by very small master craftsmen at Patan. Surat is known for silk sarees and zari or gold thread embroidery. Jamnagar is known for its woolen shawls, blankets, rugs, wooden chest and furniture. More... Music and Dances of Gujarat In the field of music, Gujarat has made its own contribution. Gujarat has preserved folk music in its pure and pristine form by Charans and Gadhavis, a community whose hereditary profession is folk music and folk arts. Lullaby, Nupital songs, festive songs, Rannade songs are the different types of folk songs in Gujarat. Besides its contribution to classical and folk music, Gujarat has produced its own folk instruments. Gujarat has a unique distinction of having a legendary origin of folk dance forms. There are certain folk dances which typically represent the community activities and their functional aspect. The tribes in Gujarat have their own forms of the folk dances. The most popular and known folk dances of Gujarat are Garba, Garbi, Rasaka, Tippani, Padhar-Nritya, Dangi-Nritya etc. More... Cities in Gujarat Some of the famous cities in Gujarat are Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Gandhinagar, Gondal, Junagadh, Lothal, Palitana, Saputara, Somnath, Surat, Dwarka, Porbandar and Vadodara. In Ahmedabad there are many fine examples of Muslim architecture. Baroda was the capital of the princely state of Gaekwad. The first British factory was established in Surat in 1612. Junagadh is known for its fort and temples and also a suitable base for visiting the Gir national park. More... Pilgrimage in Gujarat There are various places of pilgrimage in Gujarat like Somnath, Dwaraka, Junagadh, Palitana, Modhera. The Mount Girnar in Junagadh and Shatrunjaya Hill in Palitana are the two famous pilgrimage places of the Jain community. While, the Somnath temple in Somnath, Dwarakadhish temple in Dwaraka, Sun Temple in Modhera and Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar are the other famous pilgrimage of the Hindus. Ahmedabad is also visited by many tourists for its mosques and temples. More... Wildlife Sanctuaries in Gujarat Gujarat is a paradise for bird-watchers and wildlife enthusiasts. Deciduous forests, desert plains, grasslands, wetlands and coastal and marine locations have made Gujarat one of the most pleasant place for bird watching and wildlife viewing. There are about four national  parks and twenty one wildlife sanctuaries in Gujarat. Some of the wildlife sanctuaries and national parks are the Marine National Park, Gir National Park, Indian Wild Ass Wildlife sanctuary, Velavadar National Park. Nalsarovar, Khijadia Bird Sanctuary and the Porbandar Bird sanctuary are the other bird sanctuaries in Gujarat. More... The history of Gujarat that dates back to 3500 years can be known from the archaeological findings at Lothal near Dhandauka in Ahmedabad district and Razdi in Saurashtra. The earliest stone age settlements in Gujarat are situated on the margins of the South Asian zone. Some of these settlements are located at Rojadi near Rajkot and Adamgarh, near the Gujarat-Madhya Pradesh border, Sabarmati and Mahi rivers in the south. The Indus Valley and Harappa civilization has been discovered at Lothal, Rangpur, Amri, Lakhabaval and Rozdi. In 1954, these sites were discovered as one of the most remarkable Indus Valley sites in India. It seemed probably that they came by sea, occupying a settlement that was already well-established before they colonized it. The main Harappan occupation lasted from 2450 BC to 1900 BC, followed by a 300 year period of decline. In 1988, an exciting new Harappa civilization was discovered at Kuntasi, the head of the Gulf of Kutch, 30 km from Morvi in Rajkot district. Kuntasi was a port, and had a “factory” associated with it. It seems that this site hold more clues to the Harappan religious beliefs and practice. A copper ring and a spiral motif was discovered at Kuntasi, which describes about the importance of the site as a port for trade. The unusual double fortification belongs to two separate periods, the first from 2200 BC and the second from between 1900 and 1700 BC. The Rock edicts in the Girnar Hills also indicated that the Mauryan emperor Ashoka extended his domain into Gujarat. The Sakas or Scynthias (130-390 AD) controlled it after the fall of the Mauryan Empire and under Rudradaman, their empire contained Malwa, Saurashtra, Kutch and Rajasthan. During the 4th and 5th centuries it formed part of the Gupta Empire which was succeeded by the Maitraka dynasty. The Gurjara-Pratiharas ruled during the 8th and 9th centuries and were replaced by the Solanki dynasty, under whom Gujarat extended its territorial area. This was later ruled by the Vaghela dynasty before defeated by the Ala-ud-din Khalji, and the Muslim rule followed after this. Ahmad I, the first independent Muslim ruler of Gujarat founded Ahmedabad in 1411. Gujarati Provincial Architecture The period from 1300 to 1550 saw a remarkable flowering of Gujarati provincial architecture. The new Muslim rulers made full use of the skills of Hindu and Jain builders and craftsmen. The mosques and tombs that were newly built obey strict Islamic principles and also reflect the combination of Muslim political power and Hindu and Jain architecture. The Mughal emperor Humayun took Malwa and Gujarat in 1534-5 but soon lost both. His son, Akbar, reclaimed both the regions in a military operation and secured the region of the Mughals for two centuries, terminated by the Marathas in the mid 18th century. Colonial Power The Dutch, English, French and Portuguese established base along the coast in the 17th century for trading purposes. The British East India Company established his first headquarters in India at Surat and Bombay. The British maritime supremacy was established at all the places but the Portuguese withdraw from Daman and Diu. The state came under the control of the East India Company in 1818 and after the 1857 Mutiny. It was then divided into Gujarat province, which had an area of 25,900 square km and later comprising of numerous princely states. Until independence, Kathiawar was one of the most highly fragmented regions of India, that had 86 distinct political units in just over 55,000 sq km. Junagadh, covered an area of less than 9000 square km. and a population of under three quarters of million in 1947. Recent Political History In 1947 after independence, Gujarat was incorporated into Bombay state. In 1956 Saurashtra and Kutch were added. On 1 May 1960, the state of Bombay was split into present day Maharashtra and Gujarat states and in 1961 India forcibly annexed Daman and Diu. After Partition, the possession of the Rann of Kutch was disputed by India and Pakistan. In 1965 they fought over it, and following the ceasefire on 1 July, division of the area was referred to as an international tribunal. In 1968 the tribunal recommended that 90% should remain with India and 10% pass the Pakistan. Gujarat is one of the diverse and most beautiful state in India. Thousand of small and big fairs and festivals are celebrated in different parts of Gujarat every year. The festivals are based on the lunar or solar calendar. These festivals are observed with great enthusiasm and fun in which the people of all caste and religion participate. Today, these festivals are perhaps the only occasion that represents the true tradition and culture of Gujarat. Some of the fairs and festivals which are celebrated in Gujarat throughout the year are International Kite Festival, Diwali, Holi, Janmashtami, Kutch Mahotsava, Navratri, Shamlaji Fair, Modhera Dance Festival, Tarnetar Fair, Bhadra Purnima and Vautha Fair. International Kite Festival The International Kite Festival is celebrated on 14th January, that coincide with the festival of Uttarayan or Makar Sankranti. The festival is celebrated to mark the end of winter. On this day, the kites flew all over Gujarat, including Ahmedabad and Baroda. The people eat the special food on this day in the open field or in the park or in the garden of one’s home. This festival marks the movement of the sun into the northern hemisphere. The gods who are believed to have gone in a long sleep for six long months awake and the portals of heaven are thrown open. The visitors visit the temples and alms are distributed freely. The kite- flying starts at dawn and continues without a pause throughout the day. Friends, neighbours and total strangers battle one another for supremacy and cries of triumph fill the air when they cut each other kites. The thread which is used to fly the kites are specially prepared by experts before the final day. Special mixtures of glue and ground glass cover the thread which is dried and then rolled onto reels known as firkees. In the night, various illuminated box kites, known as tukkals, fly in the sky. Today, the International Kite Festival is famous all over the world. This festival enables the people of Ahmedabad to see the unusual kites brought by the visitors, some of which are truly works of art. Modhera Dance Festival The Modhera Dance Festival is held during the third week of January every year, after the festival of Uttarayan. This festival is celebrated at the Sun Temple in Modhera. The style in which the temple was built bears a strong resemblance to that of the Jain temples at Mount Abu. The decision to celebrate the annual festival of Indian classical dances was taken by the Department of Culture, Gujarat, and the West Zone Cultural Centre at the Sun Temple. The idea was to present classical dances in an atmosphere similar to that in which these were originally presented. Kutch Mahotsava The Kutch Mahotsava is usually organized during February and March each year. This mahotsava is organized by the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited in order to promote tourism in Kutch. In this festival, the visitors are taken on a six day tour of Kutch. This tour is known as a mahotsava, or great festival, because of the great variety of sights and scenes that are offered to visitors. Kutch has everything to offer to its visitors like the colourful people, historic towns and remarkable handicrafts. Bhavnath Mahadev Fair The Bhavnath Mahadev Fair is held for five days during Mahashivratri in the month of February. This fair is held at the Bhavnath Mahadev Temple, located at the foot of Girnar hill in Junagadh. The events which are associated with the fair are very colourful. The Mahapuja of Lord Shiva is held in this temple at midnight, on the 14th day of the dark half of the month of Magh. When the puja starts, naga bavas (naked sages) living nearby move towards the fair on elephants, holding flags and blow conch shells, that sound tungis and turis. It is also believed that Lord Shiva himself visits the shrine on this occasion. During this fair, the visitors are served free meals by the organizers. In the fair there are special stalls that sell idols, sarees brought by vendors from Ayodhya and Mathura, utensils of brass and copper, sweets and fruits. Holi The spring festival of Holi is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Phalguna. While Diwali marks the end of the monsoon and therefore the agricultural season of the Kharif crop, Holi marks the agricultural season of the Rabi crop. The next day after Holi is celebrated as Dhuleti (Dhuli Padvo) when people throw colour powder at each other and make merry. Raksha Bandhan On the festival of Balev or Raksha Bandhan, the Brahmins change their sacred threads. On the same day sisters tie Rakhi on their brother's wrist wishing them a happy life. The day is also celebrated as Nariyeli Poonam in the coastal areas of the State, where people worship the sea offering coconuts. Saptak Music Festival Saptak Music Festival of Indian classical music is usually conducted on the first week of January in Ahmedabad every year. This festival was inaugurated by Pandit Ravi Shankar in 1980. The musical event is organised by a public charitable trust which runs the Saptak School of Music. This festival which spans the first 11 days of January, showcases the best talent of more than hundred musicians. Janmashtami Janmashtami, the birthday of Shri Krishna, is celebrated with great splendour in Dwaraka. The main deity of Dwaraka is Shri Krishna. During the festival, the pilgrims visit the temple in Dwaraka from all parts of India and abroad. In this festival, the rows of lights are lit everywhere, kirtans and bhajans are sung, sermons are delivered and Krishna is worshipped in his infant form. After visiting the main temple, devotees visit the Shankhoddhar Beyt. Bhadra Purnima Fair The Bhadra Purnima Fair is held for three days in the month of September, every year. This fair is held on the full moon of Bhadrapad at the temple of the goddess Ambaji in Ambaji. Ambaji is the principal shrine of the goddess Ambaji in Gujarat. The deity is represented by a triangular Vishwa yantra, inscribed with figures and the syllable ‘Shree’ in the centre and there is no idol. This fact testifies the temple’s antiquity that the tourists visit the temple during the fair as an essential part of their lives. On this day, the various agriculturists and general public visit the temple. In the evening the Bhavai and garba dances are performed. The devotee attend readings of the Sapatashati, the seven hundred verses in praise of the goddess, and visit the temple for an auspicious view of the deity. Shamlaji Fair The Shamlaji Fair, also known as the Kartik Purnima Fair is held during the month of November, every year. This fair is held in Shamlaji, about 80 kms from Ahmedabad. The Shamlaji Temple is a renowned Vaishnav shrine, and the deity housed therein is known by various names as Gadadhar, bearer of the mace and Shaksi Gopal. The Shamlaji Fair is celebrated for about two weeks. About 200,000 people of all communities and castes including the Garasia and Bhil tribes visit the fair. The visitors come here from the adjoining districts and from Rajasthan. Besides visiting the deity in the temple, they also take a bath in the river Meshwo. The visitors usually come in groups, and sing devotional songs, carrying religious banners. Tarnetar Fair The Tarnetar Fair, also known as the Trinetreshwar Mahadev Fair is held at Tarnetar, near the industrial town of Thangadh, Saurashtra. This fair is one of the most important fair of Gujarat. The local as well as the tribal people gather from all over Gujarat to participate in the various activities that take place at the fair. It is believed that the fair is held on this ancient site since antiquity. The fair is also one of the most important matchmaking melas as the tribal youths visit Tarnetar to find a suitable match. Its association with the Mahabharat is underlined by the fact that the area was known as Panchal Pradesh, the land to which Draupadi belonged. The fair is linked with the story of Draupadi’s Swayamvar and it is said that it was at this place that the great archer Arjuna performed the difficult task that won him his bride. Over 300 stalls are set up in the fair, that sell numerous objects and offer various types of food and refreshments. There are exhibitions of embroidery, a cattle show, competitive sports, family planning stall, merry-go-rounds and photographer’s stall. The folk music and dances like the Garba ras and hodo are the main features of the fair. Navratri Navratri, that means ‘nine nights’ is an ancient, colourful and religious festival of Gujarat. This festival is celebrated to honour the one Divine Shakti or Force which supports the entire universe and is personified as the Mother Goddess. The Mother Goddess protects her worshippers, destroys evil and grants boons to her children. Navratri is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm throughout the Gujarat, but in Ahmedabad and Baroda, Garba and Dandia Music In the field of music, Gujarat has made its own contribution. A number of Ragas bear the territorial names of Gujarat such as Gujaqri Todi, Bilaval (from Veraval), Sorathi (from Sorath), Khambavati (from Khambhat, Cambay), Ahiri and Lati. These are invaluable gifts of Gujarat to the classical music of India. Jesingbhai, the creator of the Vichitra Veena, a musical string instrument, was from Ahmedabad. Gujarat has preserved folk music in its pure and pristine form by Charans and Gadhavis, a community whose hereditary profession is folk music and folk arts. Lullaby, Nupital songs, festive songs, Rannade songs are the different types of folk songs in Gujarat. Marsias is a peculiar form of singing at the time of death. The Vaishnava cult in Gujarat has produced a special variety of music which can be classified as temple-music. Besides its contribution to classical and folk music, Gujarat has produced its own folk instruments. Pavo, Shehani, Murli, Turi, Taturi and Bungal are the wind type instruments, while Ravan Hattho, Ektaro, and Jantar are string instruments, Manjira, Zanz, Damru, Tabla, Nagara, and pot drum percussion instruments. Stage Art - Bhavai A typical folk drama of Gujarat called Bhavai is performed in village and temple grounds by professional communities of North Gujarat - the Taragalas, Bhojakas, etc. The word Bhavai is derived from the Sanskrit word "Bhava" meaning expression of emotion. The Bhavai drama is a continuous performance lasting the whole night in which many "veshas" are performed in the open without any stage equipment. These Veshas depict episodes from the social life of communities in the countryside, focusing in a satirical or farcical way the characteristics of certain sections - Banias, Bohras, wandering tribes, etc. Continuous playing on the Bhungal, a very long wind brass instrument, before and during the performance calls the rural patrons to the scene of the Bhavai. Women are strictly tabooed from taking part in the Bhavai. Their role is performed by the male artists which makes the entire drama more ridiculous. The repertoire of the Bhavai is limited to about three dozen veshas, the authorship of which is attributed to Asait. Dance Gujarat has a unique distinction of having a legendary origin of folk dance forms. There are certain folk dances which typically represent the community activities and their functional aspect. The Tippani folk dance is a dance of such a variety in which women labourers engaged in construction work, strike the floor with long sticks called Tippani. They have a rhythmic music. The tribes in Gujarat have their own forms of the folk dances. The costumes and the instruments used during these folk dances are typical folk costumes which mostly consist of a short coat called Kedia with tight sleeves with embroidered borders and shoulders, tight trousers like the Churidars and colourfully embroidered caps or coloured turbans and a coloured waist band. The most popular and known folk dances of Gujarat are Garba, Garbi, Rasaka, Tippani, Padhar-Nritya, Dangi-Nritya etc. Most of these dances have a circle of Mandala as the basic Choreographic pattern. Hallisaka Hallisaka is a group dance, in a circular formation with the hands joined together forming a chain. The time (Tala) is kept by clapping and is accompanied by singing. A young man stands in the middle of the damsels. The feet movements, toes, heels and legs first start their journey to explore rhythmic expression measured steps, long, short, quick, and slow accompanied in single, double and triple timings. Dangi Nrita The Gangis are unique tribals, a blend of Gujarati and Maharashtrian culture mixed harmoniously with original Dravidians. The dance performed by Dangis is called Dangi Nritya. Men and women join hands forming a chain or shrinkala making serpentine movements with one of them leading. The movements is very fast, swift and create various choreographic patterns in a fraction of a second. Each variety of step is called 'Chala' and there are about 27 varieties of these chalas. One of the most amazing sights of this dance is the creation of a human pyramid. Rasa Rasa is a form of dance which is supposed to belong to Kutch and Suarashtra is performed all over Gujarat. The rasa traditions are as old as the Puranic period. In various parts of the country, Rasa is danced in different manners. The main feature of Rasa is dancing in a circle by men and woman, to the accompaniment of musical instruments and keeping time either by clapping or beating of two sticks. The number of dancers go from 8 to 64 couples, who also sing the song. There are three varieties of Rasaka. Danda Rasaka is the Rasa dance where Danda or sticks are used. In the  mandala or Tala Rasaka Rasa dance clapping is used. Lata Rasaka is the Rasa dance where dancers cling to each other and dance like a creeper to a tree. Most of the art traditions of Gujarat trace their origin to the mythological times of Lord Krishna. He is said to have been an exponent of art of dancing. Raas Nritya is a form of dance performed by Lord Krishna with Gopikas. The Dandia variety of the Raas Nritya of Gujarat is generally performed by a group of youthful persons, both males and females, who move in circles to measured steps, beating time with small sticks (called dandia) singing to the accompaniment of Dhol, Cymbals, flute or Shehnai. When the beat is given by the clapping of palms and performed only by males, it is called Garbi. The Gof variety of the raas is an intricate performance where the performers hold coloured strings attached to a top, moving in circles weaving and unweaving different patterns. The Mers of Saurashtra are known for their folk dance called the Mer Raas. White shepherds perform what is called the Gher Raas. The Gheria Raas is a dance performed by the agriculturists of south Gujarat. Garba Dance Garba Dance is a popular folk dance of Gujarat. It is a circular form of dance performed by ladies on the Navaratri days, Sharad Purnima, Vasant Panchami, Holi and other festive occasions. The word Garba is derived from the word Garbha Deep meaning a lamp inside a perforated earthen pot. The light inside the perforated earthen pot symbolize the embryonic life. In this folk dance, ladies place the pot with the lamp on their heads and move in circles, with a photograph of the goddess or a lamp in the centre singing and clapping their palms or snapping their fingers, to the accompaniment of folk instruments. The actual performance begins at night after the women finish their household work. The dancing begins with slow  tempo and reaches a fast tempo. The rhythm is kept by a Dholi or drummer who sit in the centre. Sometimes, women carry on their heads 'Mandavali' a small canopy made of bamboo chips covered with a red silk piece of cloth. They dance with it and later put it in the centre. Mandavali symbolises the temple of the goddess. Each community wears different clothes. In Saurashtra, women wear embroidered petticoats (Ghaghara), a backless choli (Kapdu) and a head cover (odhani) with lots of silver and head ornaments. Males wear Kediyum (shirt), Vajani (trouser) and Rumal, a printed head piece with silver ornaments on the waist, neck and hands. The musical instruments used for Garba are mainly the drum or dhol and Nal. Garba songs are mostly in praise of Mother Goddess Amba describing her form, powers, and invoking her blessings. Also there are Garbas describing seasons and social themes of domestic and married life.