?ગુજરાત Gujarat India
Gandhinagar
Coordinates: 23°13′00″N 72°40′60″E / 23.2167, 72.6833
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area	196,024 km² (75,685 sq mi)
Capital	Gandhinagar
Largest city	Ahmedabad
District(s)	26
Language(s)	Gujarati
Governor	Naval Kishore Sharma
Chief Minister	Narendra Modi
Established	1960-05-01
Legislature (seats)	Unicameral (182)
ISO abbreviation	IN-GJ
Website: www.gujaratindia.com

Coordinates: 23°13′00″N 72°40′60″E / 23.2167, 72.6833 Gujrat (Urdu: گجرات) is a district in Pakistan located in Punjab Province. ... Gujrat (Urdu/Punjabi: گجرات) is a city in Pakistan located in Gujrat District in the Punjab Province. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links India_Gujarat_locator_map. ... Image File history File links Locator_Dot. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... Location of Mirzapur and the 82. ... The geography of India is diverse, with landscape ranging from snow-capped mountain ranges to deserts, plains, rainforests, hills, and plateaus. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here surface areas between 100,000 km² and 1,000,000 km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ... Andhra Pradesh Arunachal Pradesh Assam Bihar Chhattisgarh National Capital Territory of Delhi Goa Gujarat Haryana Himachal Pradesh Jammu and Kashmir Jharkhand Karnataka Kerala Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra Manipur Meghalaya Mizoram Nagaland Orissa Punjab Rajasthan Sikkim Tamil Nadu Tripura Uttarakhand Uttar Pradesh West Bengal Andaman and Nicobar Islands Chandigarh Dadra and Nagar... Gandhinagar   (Gujarati: ગાંધીનગર, Hindi: गाँधीनगर) is the capital of Gujarat State, India. ... , Ahmedabad (Gujarati: , Hindi: अहमदाबाद ) is the largest city in the state of Gujarat and the seventh-largest urban agglomeration in India, with a population of almost 51 lakhs (5. ... The divisions of a district. ... The Indian state of Gujarat was created in 1960 out of the 17 northern districts of former Bombay state: Ahmedabad, Amreli, Banaskantha, Bharuch, Bhavnagar, Dang, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Kheda, Kutch, Mehsana, Panchmahal, Rajkot, Sabarkantha, Surat, Surendranagar, and Vadodara. ... As a large and linguistically diverse country, India does not have a single official language. ... Gujarati (ગુજરાતી GujÇŽrātÄ«; also known as Gujerati, Gujarathi, Guzratee, and Guujaratee[3]) is an Indo-Aryan language descending from Sanskrit, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. ... Governors of Gujarat See Also Gujarat Governors of India Links Categories: India-related stubs | Gujarat | Indian politicians | Office-holders | Government of India ... Shri Nawal Kishore Sharma, born 5 July 1925 in Dausa, Rajasthan, is the current Governor of Gujarat state in India, a position he has held since July 2004. ... This article lists the Chief Ministers of Gujarat state in chronological order. ... Narendra Dāmodardās ModÄ« (GujarātÄ«: નરેન્દ્ર મોદી, born September 17, 1950) is the incumbent Chief Minister of the state of Gujarat since October 7, 2001. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Government of India (Hindi: भारत सरकार [1]Bhārat Sarkār), officially referred to as the Union Government, and commonly as Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of a federal union of 28 states and 7 union territories, collectively called the Republic of... Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or parliamentary chamber. ... ISO 3166-2 is the second part of the ISO 3166 standard. ... ISO 3166-2 for India (ISO 3166-1 : IN) The purpose of this family of standards is to establish a worldwide series of short abbreviations for places, for use on package labels, containers and such. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

Gujarat (Gujarati: ગુજરાત Gujǎrāt, IPA: /gudʒ(ə)ɾat̪/ (help· info)) is a state in the Republic of India. With 19.8% of the country's total industrial output, it is the most industrialized state in India. Gujarat borders Pakistan, and the states of Rajasthan to the north-east, Madhya Pradesh to the east, Maharashtra and the Union territories of Diu, Daman, Dadra and Nagar Haveli to the south. Historically, the North was known as Anarta, the Kathiawad peninsula, "Saurastra", and the South as "Lata".^[1] The international border with Pakistan is to the north-west. The Arabian Sea makes up the state's western coast. Its capital, Gandhinagar is a planned city and is located near Ahmedabad, the commercial center of Gujarat. Gujarati (ગુજરાતી GujÇŽrātÄ«; also known as Gujerati, Gujarathi, Guzratee, and Guujaratee[3]) is an Indo-Aryan language descending from Sanskrit, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. ... IPA may refer to: The International Phonetic Alphabet or India Pale Ale ... Image File history File links Gujarat. ... India is a federal republic comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. ... , Rājasthān (DevanāgarÄ«: राजस्थान, IPA: )   is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. ... , Madhya Pradesh (abbreviated as MP)   (HindÄ«: मध्य प्रदेश, English: , IPA: ), often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. ... , Maharashtra (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र , IPA  , translation: Great Nation) is Indias third largest state in area and second largest in population after Uttar Pradesh. ... A Union Territory is an administrative division of India. ... Diu is a city in Diu district in the state of Daman & Diu, India. ... Daman may mean: Daman and Diu, a formerly-Portuguese territory of India Daman, a philosopher of ancient Greece This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Gujarati: દાદરા અને નગર હવેલી, Hindi: दादरा और नगर हवेली, Urdu: دادرہ اور نگر حویلی, Portuguese: Dadrá e Nagar-Aveli) is a Union Territory in western India. ... The Arabian Sea (Arabic: بحر العرب; transliterated: Bahr al-Arab) is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui, the north-east point of Somalia... Gandhinagar   (Gujarati: ગાંધીનગર, Hindi: गाँधीनगर) is the capital of Gujarat State, India. ... A New town or planned community or planned city is a city, town, or community that was designed from scratch, and grew up more or less following the plan. ... , Ahmedabad (Gujarati: , Hindi: अहमदाबाद ) is the largest city in the state of Gujarat and the seventh-largest urban agglomeration in India, with a population of almost 51 lakhs (5. ...

History

Main article: History of Gujarat

Situated on the western coast of India, the name of the state is derived from Gujjarātta (Gurjar Rāshtra), which means the land of the Gujjars . ...

Migration and Hindu Kingdoms

The name of the state is derived from Gujarāta (Gurjar Rāshtra), which means Gurjar nation. Gurjars were an old clan that was present even during the Mahabharata period, according to another theory, they are one of the Central Asian tribes that migrated to India beginning from around the first century BC. Gujarat's coastal cities, chiefly Bharuch, served as ports and trading centres for the Maurya and Gupta empires. After the collapse of the Gupta empire in the sixth century, Gujarat flourished as an independent Hindu kingdom. The Maitraka dynasty, descended from a Gupta general, ruled from the sixth to the eighth centuries from their capital at Vallabhi, although they were ruled briefly by Harsha during the seventh century. In 775 the first Parsi (Zoroastrian) refugees arrived in Gujarat from Iran. The Arab rulers of Sind sacked Vallabhi in 770, bringing the Maitraka dynasty to an end. A branch of the Pratihara clan ruled Gujarat after the eighth century. From the ninth century until the invasion by the Muslim rulers of Delhi in the late thirteenth century, it was ruled by the Solanki dynasty. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Gujar. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... For the film by Peter Brook, see The Mahabharata (1989 film). ... Central Asia is a region of Asia. ... Bharuch is a city and a municipality in Bharuch district in the state of Gujarat, India. ... Chandragupta Maurya (ruled 322–298 BC), known to the Greeks as Sandracottus, was the first emperor of the Mauryan empire. ... The Gupta Empire under Chandragupta II (ruled 375-415) The Gupta Empire was one of the largest political and military empires in the world. ... The Maitraka dynasty ruled Gujarat in western India from the c. ... Vallabhi (modern Vala) is an ancient city located in Saurashtra peninsula in Gujarat, in western India, near Bhavnagar. ... Harsha or Harshavardhana (606-648) was an Indian emperor who ruled northern India as paramount monarch for over forty years. ... This article is about the Parsi community. ... For other uses, see Arab (disambiguation). ... Le de de Sind de ou de Sindh de (Sindhi: ‎, Urdu: ‎, Hindi: ) peut se rapporter : * Sindh de le Pakistan (de 1970), retitré du ** de province de Sind dedans 1990 * [[provinces de |Sind] de province de Sind (1936-1955)] de lInde britannique (1936-04-01 - 1947-08-13) ** de le... The Pratiharas (Hindi परतिहार pratihāra, also known as Parihars) ruled a large kingdom in northern India from the 6th to the 11th centuries. ... For the English cricketer, See Vikram Solanki The Solanki or Chalukya is a Hindu Gurjar,Rajput dynasty of India, who ruled the kingdom of Gujarat from the 10th to the 13th centuries. ...

1297 AD – 1850 AD

In 1297 to 1298 Ala ud din Khilji, Sultan of Delhi, destroyed Anhilwara and incorporated Gujarat into the Delhi Sultanate. After Timur's sacking of Delhi at the end of the fourteenth century weakened the Sultanate, Gujarat's Muslim governor Zafar Khan Muzaffar asserted his independence, and his son, Sultan Ahmed Shah (ruled 1411 to 1442), restructured Ahmedabad as the capital. Cambay eclipsed Bharuch as Gujarat's most important trade port. The Sultanate of Gujarat remained independent until 1576, when the Mughal emperor Akbar conquered it and annexed it to the Mughal Empire. It remained a province of the Mughal empire until the Marathas sacked eastern and central Gujarat in the eighteenth century; Western Gujarat (Kathiawar and Kutch) were divided among numerous local rulers. Ala-ud-din Khilji (Persian: علاء الدین خلجی ) (real name Juna Khan) (d. ... The Delhi Sultanate, or Sulthanath-e-Hind/Sulthanath-e-Dilli refers to the various dynasties that ruled in India from 1210 to 1526. ... For the similar-sounding word Timor, see Timor (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Delhi (disambiguation). ... Ahmed Shah was a sultan of Gujarats ruling Muzaffarid dynasty from 1411 until his death in 1442. ... , Ahmedabad (Gujarati: , Hindi: अहमदाबाद ) is the largest city in the state of Gujarat and the seventh-largest urban agglomeration in India, with a population of almost 51 lakhs (5. ... Cambay, also known as Khambhat, is a town in Gujarat state, India. ... Bharuch is a city and a municipality in Bharuch district in the state of Gujarat, India. ... The Gujarat Sultanate was established in the 15th century, It ended 1576. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Capital Delhi / Agra Language(s) Persian (initially also Chagatai, Turkish; later also Urdu) Government Monarchy Emperor  - 1526-1530 Babur  - 1530–1539 and after restoration 1555–1556 Humayun  - 1556–1605 Akbar  - 1605–1627 Jahangir  - 1628–1658 Shah Jahan  - 1659–1707 Aurangzeb History  - Established April 21, 1526  - Ended September 21, 1857 Area... The Marāthās (Marathi: , also Mahrattas) form an Indo Aryan group of Hindu warriors and peasants hailing mostly from the present-day state of Maharashtra, who created a the expansive Maratha Empire, covering a major part of India, in the late 17th and 18th centuries. ... Kathiawar in between Gulf of Kutch and Gulf of Khambat. ... Kutch (Kuchchh) District, State of Gujarat Kutch (also spelled Cutch, Kachh, Kachch and even Kachchh) is a district of Gujarat state in western India. ...

Bombay Presidency in 1909, northern portion

Bombay Presidency in 1909, southern portion

Download high resolution version (1000x819, 249 KB)Bombay Presidency, northern portion, 1909. ... Download high resolution version (1000x819, 249 KB)Bombay Presidency, northern portion, 1909. ... Download high resolution version (1000x1208, 369 KB)Bombay Presidency, southern portion, 1909. ... Download high resolution version (1000x1208, 369 KB)Bombay Presidency, southern portion, 1909. ...

1614 AD - 1947 AD

Portugal was the first European power to arrive in Gujarat, acquiring several enclaves along the Gujarati coast, including Daman and Diu as well as Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The British East India Company established a factory in Surat in 1614, which formed their first base in India, but it was eclipsed by Bombay after the British acquired it from Portugal in 1668. The Company wrested control of much of Gujarat from the Marathas during the Second Anglo-Maratha War. Many local rulers, notably the Maratha Gaekwads of Baroda (Vadodara), made a separate peace with the British, and acknowledged British sovereignty in return for retaining local self-rule. Gujarat was placed under the political authority of the Bombay Presidency, with the exception of Baroda state, which had a direct relationship with the Governor-General of India. From 1818 to 1947, most of present-day Gujarat, including Kathiawar, Kutch, and northern and eastern Gujarat were divided into dozens of princely states, but several districts in central and southern Gujarat, namely Ahmedabad, Broach (Bharuch), Kaira, Panch Mahals, and Surat, were ruled directly by British officials. For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Daman and Diu (Portuguese: Gujarati is the main language; use of Portuguese is declining because it is not official or taught at school (but still spoken by 10% in Daman). ... Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Gujarati: દાદરા અને નગર હવેલી, Hindi: दादरा और नगर हवेली, Urdu: دادرہ اور نگر حویلی, Portuguese: Dadrá e Nagar-Aveli) is a Union Territory in western India. ... The British East India Company, sometimes referred to as John Company, was the first joint-stock company (the Dutch East India Company was the first to issue public stock). ... A Factor, from the Latin he who does (parallel to agent from Latin agens), is a person who professionally acts as the representative of another individual or other legal entity, notably in the following contexts: // Mercantile Factor In a relatively large company, there could be a hierarchy, including several gardes... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ... , Bombay redirects here. ... The Marāthās (Marathi: , also Mahrattas) form an Indo Aryan group of Hindu warriors and peasants hailing mostly from the present-day state of Maharashtra, who created a the expansive Maratha Empire, covering a major part of India, in the late 17th and 18th centuries. ... The Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803 - 1805) was a second conflict between Britain and the Maratha empire in India. ... The Marāthās (Marathi: , also Mahrattas) form an Indo Aryan group of Hindu warriors and peasants hailing mostly from the present-day state of Maharashtra, who created a the expansive Maratha Empire, covering a major part of India, in the late 17th and 18th centuries. ... The Gaekwad or Gaekwar (once rendered as Guicowar) (Gujarati: ગાયકવાડ ; Marathi: गायकवाड) was a Maratha dynasty that ruled the princely state of Baroda in western India from the mid-eighteenth century until 1947. ... , Vadodara (Gujarati: વડોદરા,Marathi:बडोदा)  ), also known as Baroda, is the third most-populated town in the Indian state of Gujarat after Ahmedabad and Surat. ... Bombay Presidency was a former province of British India. ... The Governor-Generals Flag (1885–1947) depicted the Star of India on a Union Flag. ... Kathiawar in between Gulf of Kutch and Gulf of Khambat. ... Kutch (Kuchchh) District, State of Gujarat Kutch (also spelled Cutch, Kachh, Kachch and even Kachchh) is a district of Gujarat state in western India. ... A princely state or native state was a feudal monarchy in British India ruled by a hereditary ruler, who was nominally sovereign. ... , Ahmedabad (Gujarati: , Hindi: अहमदाबाद ) is the largest city in the state of Gujarat and the seventh-largest urban agglomeration in India, with a population of almost 51 lakhs (5. ... Bharuch is a city and a municipality in Bharuch district in the state of Gujarat, India. ... Kheda is a town in the Gujarat state of India. ... Panchmahal, also Panch Mahal, is a district in the western India, in the eastern portion of Gujarat state. ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ...

Indian independence movement

Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Morarji Desai, K.M. Munshi, Narhari Parikh, Mahadev Desai, Mohanlal Pandya, Bhulabhai Desai and Ravi Shankar Vyas all hailed from Gujarat. In addition, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Pakistan's first Governor-General, father was from an area which later became Gujarat. Gujarat was also the site of some of the most popular revolts, including the Satyagrahas in Kheda, Bardoli, Borsad and the Salt Satyagraha. “Gandhi” redirects here. ... Vallabhbhai Patel (Gujarati: , Hindi: ; IPA: ) (31 October 1875 – 15 December 1950) was a political and social leader of India who played a major role in the countrys struggle for independence and guided its integration into a united, independent nation. ... Morarji Ranchhodji Desai (Hindi: ) (February 29, 1896 – April 10, 1995) was an Indian freedom fighter and the first Prime Minister that did not belong to the Indian Congress Party. ... Kanhaiyalal Maneklal Munshi was an Indian freedom fighter from the state of Gujarat. ... Narhari Parikh was an Indian freedom fighter and social reformer, who was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and the chief architect of the Indian Independence Movement in Gujarat. ... Mahadev Desai was the personal secretary of Mohandas K. Gandhi for 25 years, from 1917 to Desais death in 1942. ... Mohanlal Pandya was an Indian freedom fighter, social reformer and one of the earliest followers of Mahatma Gandhi. ... Bhulabhai Desai (b. ... Ravi Shankar Vyas was an Indian freedom fighter and social reformer, hailing from and working in the state of Gujarat. ... Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah of Pakistan Mohammad Ali Jinnah (referred to in Pakistan as Quaid-e-Azam, or Great Leader, which is a legally defined title) (December 25, 1876 - September 11, 1948) was an Indian Muslim nationalist, who led the movement demanding a separate homeland for Muslims in... Mohandas Karamchand “Mahatma” Gandhi, who developed Satyagraha Satyagraha (Sanskrit: सत्याग्रह satyāgraha) is a philosophy and practice of nonviolent resistance developed by Mohandas K. Gandhi. ... Kheda is a town in the Gujarat state of India. ... The Bardoli Satyagraha of 1925 in the state of Gujarat, India during the British Raj was a major episode of civil disobedience and revolt in the Indian Independence Movement. ... Borsad is a key town and taluka in the district of Anand (previously Kheda). ... Scenes on the eve of the Salt Satyagraha, Gandhis famous 240 mile march on foot to the sea at Dandi. ...

See also: Freedom fighters from Gujarat

This is a listing of Indian freedom fighters, which in this context usually means individuals who fought against foreign domination and cultural imposition on the Indian sub-continent. ...

Post independence

After Indian independence and the partition of India in 1947, the new Indian government grouped the former princely states of Gujarat into three larger units; Saurashtra, which included the former princely states on the Kathiawar peninsula, Kutch, and Bombay state, which included the former British districts of Bombay Presidency together with most of Baroda state and the other former princely states of eastern Gujarat. In 1956, Bombay state was enlarged to include Kutch, Saurashtra, and parts of Hyderabad state and Madhya Pradesh in central India. The new state had a mostly Gujarati-speaking north and a Marathi-speaking south. Agitation by Marathi nationalists for their own state led to the split of Bombay state on linguistic lines; on 1 May 1960, it became the new states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. The first capital of Gujarat was Ahmedabad; the capital was moved to Gandhinagar in 1970. The Indian independence movement was a series of steps taken in the Indian subcontinent for independence from British colonial rule, beginning with the Rebellion of 1857. ... This article is under construction. ... Saurashtra in between Gulf of Kutch and Gulf of Khambat. ... Kathiawar in between Gulf of Kutch and Gulf of Khambat. ... Kutch (Kuchchh) District, State of Gujarat Kutch (also spelled Cutch, Kachh, Kachch and even Kachchh) is a district of Gujarat state in western India. ... Bombay state is a former state of India. ... Flag Capital Hyderabad Government Principality Nizam  - 1720-48 (first) Asaf Jah I  - 1911-48 (last) Asaf Jah VII History  - Established 1724  - Annexed by India September 18, 1948 Hyderābād and Berar   (Telugu: హైదరాబాదు Urdu: حیدر آباد) under the Nizams, was the largest princely state in India. ... , Madhya Pradesh (abbreviated as MP)   (HindÄ«: मध्य प्रदेश, English: , IPA: ), often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. ... Marathi is one of the widely spoken languages of India, and has a long literary history. ... is the 121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... , Maharashtra (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र , IPA  , translation: Great Nation) is Indias third largest state in area and second largest in population after Uttar Pradesh. ... , Ahmedabad (Gujarati: , Hindi: अहमदाबाद ) is the largest city in the state of Gujarat and the seventh-largest urban agglomeration in India, with a population of almost 51 lakhs (5. ... Gandhinagar   (Gujarati: ગાંધીનગર, Hindi: गाँधीनगर) is the capital of Gujarat State, India. ...

2001 Gujarat earthquake

Main article: 2001 Gujarat Earthquake

Gujarat was hit by a devastating earthquake on January 26, 2001 at 08:46, which claimed more than 12,000 lives, injured another 55,000 people and severely affected the lives of forty million people in the region. The 2001 Gujarat earthquake was reportedly the most devastating earthquake in India in recent history. ... This article is about the natural seismic phenomenon. ... is the 26th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ...

2002 Gujarat Violence

Main article: 2002 Gujarat Violence

In the morning of February 27, 2002, the Sabarmati Express - carrying cadres of the Hindu right from Ayodhya, where they had gone to express their vigorous support for building a temple at a legally and politically disputed site - met with attacks from islamic millitants intending to kill innocent Hindu pilgrims near Godhra railway station in Gujarat. The skyline of Ahmedabad filled with smoke as buildings and shops are set on fire by rioting mobs. ...

A retaliatory bloodbath followed in many parts of the state. Mobs torched Muslim homes and businesses, killed Muslim people and grounded mosques and graves. Over 100,000 Muslims were pushed into the state’s ramshackle refugee camps, where basic amenities were minimal and living conditions abysmal. Fundamentalist Hindus as well as the governing BJP party has been blamed for planning attacks on Muslims in Gujarat. BJP could mean one of Indias largest political parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party British Journal of Photography British Journal of Psychiatry British Journal of Pharmocology This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

The Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar was attacked on September 25, 2002 by two heavily armed Muslim terrorists. By the end of the attack, 29 people were killed and another 79 wounded. Apart from the 25 people killed in the first assault, 1 state police officer and 1 commando also died in the action. One more seriously injured commando Surjan Singh Bhandari died after about 2 years of being in coma fighting death. In the series Ex Home Minister Haren Pandya was assassinated in the wee hours of March 2003. (Sapovadia 13:40, 15 November 2007 (UTC)) The main Akshardham temple complex Swaminarayan Akshardham is a Hindu temple complex in Delhi, India. ...

Geography

Geography of Gujarat. Courtesy: NASA Earth Observatory

Gujarat is the westernmost state of India. It is bounded by the Arabian Sea to the west and southwest, and Pakistan to the north. The state of Rajasthan is to the northeast, Madhya Pradesh to the east, and Maharashtra and the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli to the south and southeast of Gujarat. Image File history File links Gujarat Gegoraphy. ... Image File history File links Gujarat Gegoraphy. ... NASA Earth Observatory is an online publication of NASA where the public can access satellite imagery and scientific information about our planet for free. ... The Arabian Sea (Arabic: بحر العرب; transliterated: Bahr al-Arab) is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui, the north-east point of Somalia... , Rājasthān (DevanāgarÄ«: राजस्थान, IPA: )   is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. ... , Madhya Pradesh (abbreviated as MP)   (HindÄ«: मध्य प्रदेश, English: , IPA: ), often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. ... , Maharashtra (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र , IPA  , translation: Great Nation) is Indias third largest state in area and second largest in population after Uttar Pradesh. ... Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Gujarati: દાદરા અને નગર હવેલી, Hindi: दादरा और नगर हवेली, Urdu: دادرہ اور نگر حویلی, Portuguese: Dadrá e Nagar-Aveli) is a Union Territory in western India. ...

Climate and natural features

The relief is low in the most parts of the state and involves diverse climate conditions.The winters are mild, pleasant, and dry with average daytime temperatures around 83 °F(29 °C) and nights around 53 °F(12 °C) with 100 percent sunny days and clear nights. The summers are extremely hot and dry with day temperatures around 105 °F(41 °C) and at night no lower than 85 °F(29 °C) with sunshine. The time just before the monsoon the temperature are similar to above but now there is high humidity which makes the air feel hotter. Relief comes when the monsoon season starts around in mid June. The day temperatures are lower to around 95 °F(35 °C) but humidity is very high and nights are around 80 °F(27 °C). Most of the rainfall occurs in this season. There is sometimes too much rain which cause severe floods. Sun is a rare sight during the monsoon season. Though mostly dry, it is desertic in the north-west, and wet in the southern districts due to heavy monsoon season. This article is about arid terrain. ... For other uses, see Monsoon (disambiguation). ...

Districts of Gujrat

• Ahmedabad
  
• Amreli
  
• Anand
  
• Nadiad (Kheda)
• Banaskatha (Palanpur)
  
• Bharuch
  
• Bhavnagar
  
• Dahod
  
• bhagirath
  
• Dang (Ahava)
  
• Gandhinagar
  
• Jamnagar
  
• Junagadh
  
• Kutchh
  
• Mehsana
  
• Navsari
  
• Panchmahal(Godhara)
  
• Patan
  
• Porbandar
  
• Rajkot
  
• Narmada (Rajpipla)
  
• Sabarkantha (Himmat Nagar)
• Surat
  
• Surendra Nagar
  
• Vadodara - also known as Baroda
  
• Valsad
  

Gujrat a Glance

Demographics

The population of the Gujarat State is about 50,671,017 as per the 2001 census data. The density of population is only 258 persons per sq. km. compares favourable with the other states of the country.

Its official and primary language is Gujarati. About 89.1% of the population of Gujarat are Hindu. ^[2] Muslims account for 9.1%, Jain 1.0% and Sikh 0.1% of the population. ^[3] Most of the Gujarati Hindu are strict vegetarians. Amongst Hindus the deity of Krishna is famously worshipped in His form of Shrinathji throughout Gujarat. Gujarat is the birthplace of Gandhi. Gujarat is also the birthplace of the Swaminarayan sect of Hinduism. Gujarati (ગુજરાતી Gujǎrātī; also known as Gujerati, Gujarathi, Guzratee, and Guujaratee[3]) is an Indo-Aryan language descending from Sanskrit, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. ... JAIN is an activity within the Java Community Process, developing APIs for the creation of telephony (voice and data) services. ... Religions Sikhism Scriptures Guru Granth Sahib Languages English, Punjabi] A Sikh (English: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ) is an adherent to Sikhism. ... This article is about the Hindu deity. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Nathdwara. ... Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan Bhagwan Swaminarayan (April 2, 1781 - 1830) was born Ghanshyam Maharaj to a brahmin family in the village of Chhapaiya, Uttar Pradesh, India. ...

It should be noted that 91% of the Hindus speak Gujarati while the rest speak Hindi, Marathi and other languages. Almost 88% of the Muslims speak Gujarati while the rest speak Urdu. Almost all of the Jains speak Gujarati. Parsi Zoroastrians also speak Gujarati as their native language. This article is about the Parsi community. ...

Besides Gujarati the Kutchi dialect is widely spoken in the Kutch District. The Kutchi language originates from Kutch, India. ... Kutch (Kuchchh) District, State of Gujarat Kutch (also spelled Cutch, Kachh, Kachch and even Kachchh) is a district of Gujarat state in western India. ...

People

Gujarat is home to number of groups that settled from outside including Huns, Sakas, Muslims (Turks, Persians, Arabs, Pashtuns). Gujarat is divided mostly along Hindu caste lines. The largest Hindu caste is Koli or Koli Patel which makes up 20% of the population. The second largest Hindu caste is Patidar or Kanbi which makes up roughly 15% of the population. Other major Hindu caste groups are Brahmin, Vaishnava, Suthar,Luhar,Kadiya,Kumbhar,Adivasi, Rajput, Vaniya, Anavil, Harijan, Lohana, and number of other small sub-castes. The two largest Hindu caste, Koli and Kanbi, are distributed throughout Gujarat while other are found only in certain areas of Gujarat. e.g. Anavil are mainly found in South Gujarat while Lohanas are found in Saurashtra region. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Patel. ...

The Meghwals are masters of weaving cotton and wool as also embroidery and appliqué work.

The Ahirs came with Lord Krishna from Gokul in Uttar Pradesh. Most of the communities of Ahirs began with selling ghee and milk and are now spread all over the state.

The Rabaris are a nomadic tribe always wandering with their herds. The origin of this tribe has been traced back to Sind and Afghanistan though many aspects of this tribe still remain a puzzle for anthropologists. They have been classified into three distinct groups, namely Vagadia, Dhabaria, and Kachhi. Women of this tribe engage themselves in making elaborate embroidery pieces while the men spend their time tending to their camels and sheep.

Moreover Gujarat being a heavily industrialized state of India, attracts lots of outsiders from various parts of India.

Economy

Macro-economic trend

This is a chart of trend of gross state domestic product of Gujarat at market prices estimated by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation with figures in millions of Indian Rupees.

Gujarat is one of the most prosperous states of the country, having a per-capita GDP 20 times India's average^{[citation needed]}. If it was a nation it would have been 67th richest nation above many European and Asian economies like Ukraine^{[citation needed]}. Gujarat controls some of the largest businesses in India. According to the data published by Punjab and Maharashtra, at Rs. 15,800.^[4] Major Agricultural produce of the state include cotton, peanuts, dates, sugar cane, milk & milk products. Industrial products include cement, and petrol. Binomial name Phoenix dactylifera L. The Date Palm Phoenix dactylifera is a palm, extensively cultivated for its edible fruit. ... Petrol redirects here. ...

Gujarat holds many records in India for economic development:^{[citation needed]}

• 20% of India's Industrial Output
• 10 of its Mineral Production
• 20% of its exports
• 25% of its textile production
• 40% of India's pharmaceutical products
• 47% petrochemical production
• Largest Sea shore, 1670 km.

The worlds largest ship breaking yard is in Gujarat near Bhavnagar at Alang. Reliance Petroleum Limited, one of the group companies of Reliance Industries Limited founded by Dhirubhai Ambani operates the oil refinery at Jamnagar which is the world's largest grass roots refineries.^[5]The company has also planned another SEZ(special economic zone), in Jamnagar^[6][7].

Gujarat ranks first nationwide in gas-based thermal electricity generation with national market share of over 8% and second nationwide in nuclear electricity generation with national market share of over 1%. This is a list of States and Union Territories of India by installed capacity of power utilities with generation mode break-up as of 3 April 2006 published by the Ministry of Power with figures in millions of watts. ...

Over 20% of the S&P CNX 500 conglomerates have corporate offices in Gujarat.

See also: List of conglomerates in Gujarat

As per RBI report, in year 2006-07, 26% out of total bank finance in India was in Gujarat. (Sapovadia 13:40, 15 November 2007 (UTC)) This is a list of NSE-indexed conglomerates with corporate offices in Gujarat. ...

Industrial growth and advantage

One of India's most industrialized states, Gujarat maintains a variety of industries, the principal ones being general and electrical engineering and the manufacture of textiles, vegetable oils, chemicals, soda ash, and cement. New industries include the production of fertilizers and petrochemicals. Major resources produced by the state include cotton, peanuts, dates, sugarcane, and petrol. The state is rich in calcite, gypsum, manganese, lignite, bauxite, limestone, agate, feldspar and quartz sand and successful mining of these minerals is done in their specified areas. Gujarat produces about 90% of India’s required amount of Soda Ash and gives the country about 66% of its national requirement of salt. It is one of India's most prosperous states, having a per-capita GDP significantly above India's average. Kalol Khambat and Ankaleshwar are today known for their oil and natural gas production. ‘Dhuranan’ has a thermal power station, which uses coal, oil and gas. The Tarapur nuclear station in Maharashtra supplies the remaining power. Also on the Gulf of Khambat, 50 kilometers southeast of Bhavnagar , is the Alang Ship Recycling Yard (the world's largest). General Motors produces the ‘Astra’ car near Vadodara. Jalalpur is a large town of Gujrat, where several small and large textile industrial unit have been established. Surat, a city by the Gulf of Khambat , is hub of global diamond trade.

• During the period 1960-90, Gujarat established itself as a leader in various industrial sectors - Textiles, Engineering, Chemicals,Petrochemicals, Drugs & Pharmaceuticals, Dairy, Cement & Ceramics, Gems & Jewellery, etc.
• Post-liberalization period saw Gujarat's State Domestic Product (SDP) rising at an average growth rate of 14% per annum in real terms (from 1994 -2002).
• Gujarat achieved as much as 35% of augmentation in its power generation capacity during the period 1995-96 and 2000-01. The producers (IPPs) have contributed significantly in this addition. As a matter of fact Gujarat is one of the first few states in India to have encouraged private sector investment and are already in operation. In addition the liquid cargo (Chemicals) handling port at Dahej is also set up in joint sector and made operational.
• In an investor's summit entitled Vibrant Gujarat arranged between January 10, 2007 to January 13, 2007, at Science City, Ahmedabad, the state government signed 104 Memoranda of Understandings for Special Economic Zones totalling worth Rs 2.5 lakh crore. ^[8]. However, most of the investment was from domestic industry.^[9]

is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 13th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... , Ahmedabad (Gujarati: , Hindi: अहमदाबाद ) is the largest city in the state of Gujarat and the seventh-largest urban agglomeration in India, with a population of almost 51 lakhs (5. ...

Agriculture

The major food crops in the State are Rice, Wheat, Jowar, Bajra, Maize, Tur, Gram, Groundnut while major non food crops are Cotton, Tobacco. Gujarat has an agricultural economy; the total crop area amounts to more than one-half of the total land area.

Animal Husbandry and Dairying have played a vital role in the rural economy of Gujarat. Dairy farming, primarily concerned with milk production, functions on a cooperative basis and has more than a million members. Gujrat is the largest producer of milk in India. The ‘Amul’ products are well known all over India. Among livestock raised are buffalo and other cattle, sheep, and goats. As per the results of livestock census 1997, there were 209.70 lakh livestock in Gujarat State. As per the estimates of the survey of major livestock products, during the year 2002-03 the production of milk, eggs and wool was of 6.09 million tonnes, 385 million eggs and 2.71 million kg. respectively. The state is the main producer of tobacco, cotton, and groundnut in the country. Gujarat also contributes inputs to industries like textiles, oil and soap.

Amul

Anand,Gujarat is the birthplace of the Amul milk co-operative federation. Started by Tribhovandas Patel and ably led for many years after him by Verghese Kurien this movement has served as a model for other co-operative movements throughout India. Look up Anand in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Amuliosis (Anand Milk-producers Union Limited), formed in 1990, is a dairy cooperative movement in India. ... Tribhovandas Patel was the founder of the Amul co-operative movement in Anand, Kheda District, Gujarat. ... Dr Verghese Kurien Dr. Verghese Kurien (born November 26, 1921) is called the father of the White Revolution in India. ...

Government and politics

Districts of Gujarat

Main article: Politics of Gujarat

Further information: Districts of Gujarat and Chief Ministers of Gujarat

On 1960-05-01, Gujarat was created out of the 17 northern districts of former State of Bombay. These districts were further subdivided later on. There are 25 administrative districts in the state (as of 2006). Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1058x749, 61 KB) Summary Districts (colored) of Gujarat State (India) - Self Made - w:User:Miljoshi - December 2005 Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Gujarat Districts of Gujarat User:Miljoshi ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1058x749, 61 KB) Summary Districts (colored) of Gujarat State (India) - Self Made - w:User:Miljoshi - December 2005 Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Gujarat Districts of Gujarat User:Miljoshi ... On 1960-05-01, Gujarat was created out of the 17 northern districts of former State of Bombay. ... The Indian state of Gujarat was created in 1960 out of the 17 northern districts of former Bombay state: Ahmedabad, Amreli, Banaskantha, Bharuch, Bhavnagar, Dang, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Kheda, Kutch, Mehsana, Panchmahal, Rajkot, Sabarkantha, Surat, Surendranagar, and Vadodara. ... This article lists the Chief Ministers of Gujarat state in chronological order. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Local government areas called districts are used, or have been used, in several countries. ... Bombay Presidency in 1909, northern portion Bombay Presidency in 1909, southern portion The State of Bombay is a former state of pre-independence India. ... Local government areas called districts are used, or have been used, in several countries. ...

Gujarat is governed by a Legislative Assembly of 182 members. Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) are elected on the basis of adult suffrage from one of 182 constituencies, of which 13 are reserved for scheduled castes and 26 for scheduled tribes. The term of office for a member of the Legislative Assembly is five years. The Legislative Assembly elects a speaker, who presides over the meetings of the legislature. A governor is appointed by the President of India, and is Assembly, and to address the House after every general election and the commencement of each year's first session of the Legislative Assembly. The leader of the majority party or coalition in the legislature (Chief Minister) or his or her designee acts as the Leader of the Legislative Assembly. The administration of the state is led by the Chief Minister. A Legislative Assembly in some parts of the Commonwealth refers to a legislature, or a chamber of the legislature. ... In India, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are communities that are accorded special status by the Constitution of India. ... Ādivāsīs (आदिवासी) or tribal peoples comprise a substantial minority of the population of India. ... The President of India (Hindi: Rashtrapati) is the head of state and first citizen of India and the Supreme Commander of the Indian armed forces. ...

After gaining independence in 1947, the Indian National Congress party (INC) ruled the Bombay state (which included present-day Gujarat and Maharashtra). Congress continued to govern Gujarat after the state's creation in 1960. During and after India's State of Emergency of 1975-1977, public support for the Congress Party eroded, but it continued to hold government until 1995. In the 1995 Assembly Polls, the Congress lost to the BJP and Keshubhai Patel came to power. His Government lasted only 2 years. The fall of that government was provoked by a split in the BJP led by Shankersinh Vagheland has won most of the subsequent polls. In 2001, following the loss of 2 assembly seats in by-elections, Keshubhai Patel resigned and yielded power to Narendra Modi. The BJP retained a majority in the 2002 election, and Narendra Modi has since served as Chief Minister of the state. On 1st June, 2007, Narendra Modi became the longest serving Chief Minister of Gujarat^[10][11]. Indian National Congress, Congress-I (also known as the Congress Party and abbreviated INC) is a major political party in India. ... Bombay state is a former state of India. ... , Maharashtra (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र , IPA  , translation: Great Nation) is Indias third largest state in area and second largest in population after Uttar Pradesh. ... A state of emergency in India refers to a period of governance under an altered constitutional setup that can be proclaimed by the President of India, when he perceives grave threats to the nation from internal and external sources or from financial situations of crisis. ... BJP could mean one of Indias largest political parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party British Journal of Photography British Journal of Psychiatry British Journal of Pharmocology This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Keshubhai Patel (born 1929) is a former Cheif Minister of Gujarat state in India from March 1995 to October 1995 and from March 1998 to October 2001. ... A by-election or bye-election is a special election held to fill a political office when the incumbent has died or resigned. ... Narendra Dāmodardās ModÄ« (GujarātÄ«: નરેન્દ્ર મોદી, born September 17, 1950) is the incumbent Chief Minister of the state of Gujarat since October 7, 2001. ... (Redirected from 1st June) June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

Revenues of government

This is a chart of trend of own tax revenues (excluding the shares from Union tax pool) of the Government of Gujarat assessed by the Finance Commissions from time to time with figures in millions of Indian Rupees.

This is a chart of trend of own non-tax revenues (excluding the shares from Union tax pool) of the Government of Gujarat assessed by the Finance Commissions from time to time with figures in millions of Indian Rupees.

Education

Gujarat has 13 universities and 4 agricultural universities. Gujarat also has an Indian Institute of Management, at Ahmedabad and a National Institute of Technology at Surat. Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay is going to start a new campus in Gujarat in the near future. For the community in Florida, see University, Florida. ... The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are the premier management schools of India, located in the cities of Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Indore, Kolkata, Kozhikode and Lucknow. ... , Ahmedabad (Gujarati: , Hindi: अहमदाबाद ) is the largest city in the state of Gujarat and the seventh-largest urban agglomeration in India, with a population of almost 51 lakhs (5. ... NIT may stand for any of the following: National Invitation Tournament is a college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ... The Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, popularly known as IIT Bombay, or simply IIT-B, is an autonomous, co-educational university located in Powai, in north central Mumbai. ...

Universities

• Nirma University, Ahmedabad
• Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar
• Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information & Communication Technology, Gandhinagar
• Dharmsinh Desai University, Nadiad
• Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar
• Anand Agricultural University, Anand
• Saurashtra University, Rajkot
• Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Baroda
• Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan
• Gujarat University, Ahmedabad
• Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad
• Bhavnagar University, Bhavnagar
• Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University, Ahmedabad
• Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar
• Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh
• Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari
• Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University: Gujrat Agricultural University, Palanpur
• Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat
• Ganpat University, Mehsana
• Kachchh University, Kachchh
• Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad
• Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat

Nirma University of Science and Technology Nirma University of Science & Technology is a deemed university located in Ahmedabad, India. ... , Ahmedabad (Gujarati: , Hindi: अहमदाबाद ) is the largest city in the state of Gujarat and the seventh-largest urban agglomeration in India, with a population of almost 51 lakhs (5. ... Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) is the statutory university established by the Government of Gujarat under the Gujarat National University Act, 2003. ... Gandhinagar   (Gujarati: ગાંધીનગર, Hindi: गाँधीनगर) is the capital of Gujarat State, India. ... Gandhinagar   (Gujarati: ગાંધીનગર, Hindi: गाँधीनगर) is the capital of Gujarat State, India. ... Dharamsinh Desai Institute of Technology (DDIT)[2] is an institute of higher learning, situated in the city of Nadiad in Gujarat state in Western India. ... , Nadiad (Gujarati:નિડયાદ Hindi:निडयाद) is a city and a municipality in Kheda district in the Indian state of Gujarat. ... Gujarat Ayurved University Jamnagar is the only statutory University exclusively devoted to Ayurvedic Studies and Research, also called Homeopathy. ... , Jamnagar is a city and a municipal corporation in Jamnagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. ... Anand Agricultural University is a university located in India. ... Look up Anand in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Saurashtra University was established on 23rd May 1967 with the mission to provide an educational facelift to the economically downtrodden region of Saurashtra. ... , Rajkot   (2005 pop. ... The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, named after Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, the visionary ruler of Baroda, is one of the premier universities of India and the largest university in the city of Baroda in Gujarat, India. ... Vadodara, also known as Baroda, is the third-most populated town in Gujarat after Ahmedabad and Surat (the three towns with a population of over 1 million in Gujarat). ... // Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University is a public university located at Patan, Gujrat, India. ... Patan is : a city in Nepal (Patan, Nepal) a city and district in Gujarat (Patan, Gujarat) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Gujarat University is the statewide institution affiliating many reputed colleges across the state of Gujarat. ... , Ahmedabad (Gujarati: , Hindi: अहमदाबाद ) is the largest city in the state of Gujarat and the seventh-largest urban agglomeration in India, with a population of almost 51 lakhs (5. ... The Gujarat Vidyapith is a major university located in Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat in India. ... , Ahmedabad (Gujarati: , Hindi: अहमदाबाद ) is the largest city in the state of Gujarat and the seventh-largest urban agglomeration in India, with a population of almost 51 lakhs (5. ... Bhavnagar University separated from the Saurashtra University in 1979. ... , Bhavnagar (Gujarati: , Hindi: , ) is a city in the Indian state of Gujarat. ... The Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University is a public institution of higher learning in Ahmedabad, India. ... , Ahmedabad (Gujarati: , Hindi: अहमदाबाद ) is the largest city in the state of Gujarat and the seventh-largest urban agglomeration in India, with a population of almost 51 lakhs (5. ... Sardar Patel University is a university in Gujarat state of India. ... Vallabh Vidyanagar, also Vallabh Vidhyanagar, is a town in Gujarat state of western India. ... Junagadh Agricultural University is an agricultural university at Junagadh in the Indian state of Gujarat. ... Junagadh is a city, in Junagadh District, in the Indian state of Gujarat. ... The Navsari Agricultural University (NAU) was formed as a consequence of the division of Gujarat Agricultural University into four new Universities. ... , Navsari (Gujarati: નવસારી) is a city and a municipality in the Indian state of Gujarat. ... Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardar Krushinagar is one of the prestigious State Agricultural Universities in India which was the headquarters of erstwhile Gujarat Agricultural University. ... , Palanpur is a city and a municipality in Banaskantha district in the Indian state of Gujarat. ... The South Gujarat University, located in the city of Surat, has been renamed and is now called as Veer Narmad South Gujarat University. The renaming of the university occurred during the year 2004. ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ... Ganpat University is located in Mehsana, Gujarat, India. ... Mehsana is a town in the state of Gujarat in India, in Mehsana District. ... Krantiguru Shyamji Krishna Verma Kachchh University named after the eminent leader Shyamji Krishna Verma of Kachchh, Gujrat, India is a regional university which aims to promore higher education in regional and Rural areas of the country. ... Kutch (also Cutch or Kachh) is a district of Gujarat state in western India. ... The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are the premier management schools of India, located in the cities of Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Indore, Kolkata, Kozhikode and Lucknow. ... , Ahmedabad (Gujarati: , Hindi: अहमदाबाद ) is the largest city in the state of Gujarat and the seventh-largest urban agglomeration in India, with a population of almost 51 lakhs (5. ... Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat (NIT Surat) is one of the 20 National Institutes of Technology (NITs) established in India in June 1961. ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ...

Engineering institutes

L.D. College of Engineering, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of Technology (SVIT)-Vasad, Dharmsinh Desai Institute of Technology (DDIT)[2] Nirma Institute of Technology, Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology, Charotar Institute Of Technology (Changa), Sarvajanik College of Engineering and Technology,Surat,M.S university, Vadodara, Birla Vishwakarma Mahavidyalaya, Vallabh Vidyanagar are among the premier engineering institutes of west India. Gujarat also has a National Institute of Technology in Surat. L.D.COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING,AHMEDABAD L.D is the engineering college in Gujarat city adminsitered by the government of Gujrat District. ... Nirma University of Science and Technology Nirma University of Science & Technology is a deemed university located in Ahmedabad, India. ... Lab Building, DAIICT Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology, usually abbreviated to DAIICT, is an educational institution situated in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. ... Birla Vishwakarma Mahavidyalaya is an engineering college located in Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India. ... Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat (NIT Surat) is one of the 20 National Institutes of Technology (NITs) established in India in June 1961. ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ...

The Institute for Plasma Research is an autonomous Physics research institute located in the capital city Gandhinagar and is involved in the research of various aspects of plasma science including basic plasma physics, research on magnetically confined hot plasmas and plasma technologies for industrial applications. The Ahmedabad Textile and Industries’ Research Association is also located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Institute for Plasma Research is an autonomous physics research institute located in India. ...

Other institutes

Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute has been established under Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Govt. of India at Bhavnagar. It was inaugurated by Late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the First Prime Minister of India on 10 April, 1954, with a view to carry out research on marine salt, and salt from inland lakes and sub-soil brine. It is working on reverse osmosis, electro membrane process, salt and marine chemicals, analytical science, marine biotechnology, and other related fields. Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute was opened by Jawahar lal Nehru. ... The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is South Africas central and premier scientific research and development organization. ... Reverse osmosis is a separation process that uses pressure to force a solvent through a membrane that retains the solute on one side and allows the pure solvent to pass to the other side. ...

Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, one of the internationally reputed management research institute is located in Gujarat's commercial capital Ahmadabad. Indian Institute of Management Ahmadabad is one of the best management institutes in the country [3].^{[citation needed]} B. K. School of Business Management is ranked 6th in terms of Financial Manaement [4] The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM Ahmedabad, also known as IIMA), was the second Indian Institute of Management to be established in India after IIM Calcutta. ...

Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat is one of the best engineering colleges in India. It is one of the 20 NITs created by the central govt. and is a deemed university. It has students from all over India and some foreign students as well Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat (NIT Surat) is one of the 20 National Institutes of Technology (NITs) established in India in June 1961. ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ...

Gujarat Science City

Gujarat Science City [5], is a government initiative to draw more students towards education in science, which hosts India's first IMAX 3D theatre, an energy park, a hall of science, an amphitheatre, and dancing musical fountains among others. Gujarat Science city is situated at Hebatpur, Ahmedabad. ... A magnet levitating above a high-temperature superconductor demonstrates the Meissner effect. ... IMAX theatre at the Melbourne Museum complex, Australia BFI London IMAX by night LHemisferic (Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències) Valencia, Spain IMAX (short for Image Maximum) is a film format created by Canadas IMAX Corporation that has the capacity to display images of far greater... The Colosseum in Rome, Italy. ... A musical fountain is a type of animated fountain for entertainment purposes that creates an aesthetic design and a three-dimensional image. ...

Main article: List of educational institutions of Gujarat

List of research organisations and educational institutions of Gujarat. ...

Tourism

Gujarat has a wealth of tourist spots. It has several temples, sunny beaches, the rann of kachchh, historic sites, beautiful cities, national parks, and sanctuaries.

Temples and religious sites

The world's first Swaminarayan Temple was built in Ahmedabad by the instructions of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.

• 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 bas 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.

• For a very good pictorial tour

 palitana : http://www.esnips.com/web/palitana ran-ni-vav : http://www.esnips.com/web/patan gandhiashram : http://www.esnips.com/web/gandhiashram various sites : http://www.esnips.com/user/sharravi 

Image File history File linksMetadata Temple4. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Temple4. ... Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan Bhagwan Swaminarayan (April 2, 1781 - 1830) was born Ganshyam Pande to a brahmin family in the village of Chhapaiya, Uttar Pradesh, India. ... , Ahmedabad (Gujarati: , Hindi: अहमदाबाद ) is the largest city in the state of Gujarat and the seventh-largest urban agglomeration in India, with a population of almost 51 lakhs (5. ... , Dwarka   is a city and a municipality in Jamnagar district in the state of Gujarat, India. ... This article is about the Hindu deity. ... The Arabian Sea (Arabic: بحر العرب; transliterated: Bahr al-Arab) is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui, the north-east point of Somalia... This article is about the Hindu deity. ... See Avatar (disambiguation) for other meanings. ... Vishnu (IAST , Devanagari ), (honorific: Sri Vishnu) also known as Narayana is the Supreme Being (i. ... For the film by Peter Brook, see The Mahabharata (1989 film). ... Rann of Kutch on the Top Left. ... A fossil Ammonite Fossils are the mineralized remains of animals or plants or other traces such as footprints. ... , Palitana   is a city, a municipality and former princely state in Bhavnagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. ... JAIN is an activity within the Java Community Process, developing APIs for the creation of telephony (voice and data) services. ... , Bhavnagar (Gujarati: , Hindi: , ) is a city in the Indian state of Gujarat. ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ... , Veraval (Gujarati:વેરવળ,Hindi:वेरावल) is a city and a municipality in Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. ... The Sun Temple, Modhera (Gujarat) is situated about 104 km from Ahmedabad, near Mehsana town. ... In Hinduism, Surya (Devanagari: सूर्य, sÅ«rya) is the chief solar deity,one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wife Aditi[1] ,in Nordics Tyr he is said to be the son of Dyaus Pitar. ... Shankheshwar is most importent Jain tirth for [[Jain pilgrimage. ... A Jain temple is called Derasar. ... The 24 Jinas carved on a rock in Ginjee, Tamilnadu In Jainism, a Tirthankar (Fordmaker) (also Tirthankara or Jina) is a human who by adopting asceticism achieves enlightenment (perfect knowledge), thus becoming a Jina (one who has conquered his inner enemies - anger, pride, deceit, desire etc. ... A 1097 representation of Parshvanath from Smithsonian Institute’s collections In Jainism, Parshva (877-777 B.C.E.), (more correctly Parshvanatha; occasionally spelled Parswanath) was the twenty-third Tirthankara. ... Krishna (IAST , the Sanskrit for dark or black) (see below), is according to common Hindu tradition the eighth avatar of Vishnu. ... Patan is : a city in Nepal (Patan, Nepal) a city and district in Gujarat (Patan, Gujarat) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... A Jain temple is called Derasar. ... JAIN is an activity within the Java Community Process, developing APIs for the creation of telephony (voice and data) services. ... Girnar (also known as Girnar Hill) is a collection of mountains in the Junagadh District of Gujarat, India. ... The hand with a wheel on the palm symbolizes the Jain Vow of Ahinsa, meaning non-injury and nonviolence. ... This article is about the Hindu religion; for other meanings of the word, see Hindu (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... In Jainism, a Tirthankara (Fordmaker) is a human who achieved enlightenment, became a Jiva, and whose religious teachings have formed the canon of Jainism; although not Gods, statues of Tirthankaras are found in temples. ... This article is about the Buddhist concept. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ...

Fairs

Around 3500 festivals are celebrated in Gujarat. Gujarat has always been known for its fairs and festivals. Some of these fairs and festivals are :

Bhavnath Mahadev Mela (February)

The Bhavnath Mahadev Temple, situated at the foot of Mount Girnar in the city of Junagadh is the site of the Bhavnath Mahadev fair held for five days in February, during the festival of Mahashivratri. The Mahapuja of Lord Shiva takes place at midnight in this temple on the 14th day of the dark half of the month of Magh. When the puja (prayer ceremony) starts, Naga Bavas (naked sages) living nearby, move towards the fair seated on elephants, holding flags and blowing conch shells. It is firmly believed that Lord Shiva himself visits the shrine on this occasion. Visitors are served free meals by the organizers. Special stalls sell idols, rosaries or holy beads brought by vendors from Ayodhya and Mathura, utensils of brass and copper, sweets and fruits. The Bhavnath Mahadev Temple is surrounded by many equally ancient and holy places.

Dangs Darbar (March)

Dangs Darbar is the name of the annual fair held every year in Ahwa, the most important town in the Dangs a few days before Holi. The Dangs is one of the most delightful districts of Gujarat and is located high in the Saputara hills, the original home of the adivasis, the tribal population of Gujarat. The name 'Darbar' dates back to the time of the British, when a darbar of Rajas and Naiks of neighbouring area used to assemble there. Today it is called Jamabandi Darbar and the District Collector officiates at it. Thousands of tribal people flock to Ahwa from all over the district, dressed in bright colours sounding the Shehnai and beating their drums. Folk dances, dramas and songs enliven the air during the festival.

Chitra - Vichitra Mela (March)

This fair, one of the largest, purely Adivasi (tribal) fairs attended by around 60,000 to 70,000 tribal people. It takes place every year in the village of Gunbhakhari in Sabarkantha district, very near the borders of Rajasthan. It is held a fortnight after Holi, the festival of colours. The site of the fair is attractive as the temple overlooks the rivers Sabarmati, Akul and Vyakul. The name of the fair is derived from Chitravirya and Vichitraviraya, the sons of King Shantanu, who are believed to have lived here and been cured of diseases which afflicted them. The fair attracts large numbers of Bhils (tribals) who come from all the surrounding districts using every imaginable form of transport. The Garasis and Bhil tribals dress in their customary colourful costumes. The costume of the men generally consists of a blue shirt, dhoti and a red or saffron turban. Women don ghaghras (embroidered skirts) which have a circumference of as much as 20 yards, and are covered from head to foot with ornate and heavy silver jewellery. They use liquid kumkum (vermilion) to colour their cheeks and lips a brilliant red, while their eyes are outlined with kajal (kohl). Every group that comes to the fair carries its own drum making the atmosphere come alive with the incessant beat of numerous drums. The women sing folk songs, and everyone dances. The dancing and drumming continue for hours until everyone is exhausted. Over a hundred stalls hold food and drink, and sweets of various kinds. Silver ornaments can be bought and household articles as well. Here, as in other fairs, there is a giant wheel, and a merry-go-round which never cease to spin.

Dhrang Fair (April)

Around 40 kms from Bhuj, it is known for the samadhi of the famous saint Menkan Dada who served the community with great love and dedication and won their devotion. He was supposed to be the incarnation of Lakshmanji. A large fair is held on Magh Vad when a large number of Dada's followers from different parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan come to the Samadhi and participate in religious rituals.

Trinetreshwar Mahadev Fair (September-October)

The small hamlet of Tarnetar, about 75 kilometers from Rajkot, is the site for one of Gujarat's most well known annual fairs, held here during the first week of Bhadrapad (September-October). This fair is primarily a 'marriage mart' or 'Swayamvar' for the tribal youth of today who still visit Tarnetar, to find them a suitable bride. The tribal youth elegantly dressed in colourful dhotis, waistcoats and eye-catching turbans come to be chosen by village belles dressed in colourful finery. Like all-important tribal fairs, it is attended by tribes from the adjoining who indulge in dancing, competitive sports and other such forms of entertainment. There are over 300 stalls selling food, refreshments, exhibiting embroidery and cattle shows. The bachelors are usually identified by their large colourful embroidered umbrellas and their distinctive hairstyles. These umbrellas, which have become emblems of the fair, are embroidered by the tribal youth for over a year. The fair is held around the Trinetreshwar Temple dedicated to the three-eyed Lord Shiva, built at the beginning of the century. There is a kund (reservoir) here and it is popularly believed that a dip in its waters is as holy as a dip in the sacred River Ganges. The reservoir is also known as papanshu (the destroyer of sins).

Vautha Mela (November)

This magnificent fair is held every year at Vautha, where two rivers, the Sabarmati and the Vatrak meet. Like most fair sites in India, this also has both mythological and current religious associations. The Vautha Mela site is 3 square miles in area. Legends hold that Kartik Swami or Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva, visited the site. This is why the fair is held during Kartika Purnima, the full moon night of the month of Kartik, corresponding to November. The site, also known as Saptasangam, is at the confluence of seven rivers. The most important Shiva temple here is the temple of Siddhanath.

What is most significant about this fair is that it is the only major animal trading fair in Gujarat and is on par with the famous camel fair at Pushkar, Rajasthan. However the only animals traded here are donkeys. About 4,000 donkeys are brought every year for sale, usually by Vanjara (gypsy) traders. The pilgrims who visit Vautha during the fair are from several communities and include farmers, labourers and people belonging to several castes.

Shamlaji Melo (November)

The Shamlaji Melo, also called the Kartik Purnima fair is held in the month of November every year and lasts for about two weeks. It is attended by almost two hundred thousand people from adjoining districts and even from Rajasthan. Devotees belonging to various castes and communities including the Garasias and Bhils throng this festival. These pilgrims come in groups, singing devotional songs and carry religious banners to have a darshan (worship)of the deity at the Shamlaji Temple. The Shamlaji Temple is a renowned Vaishnav Shrine and the deity housed here is known by various names included Gadadhar (bearer of the mace) and Shaksi Gopal. The fair is also popular with the tribal people of the area, particularly the Bhils, who revere Shamlaji, the deity they refer to as 'Kalio Bavji', the dark divinity. The temple is of great archaeological significance as it was built in the 11th century. Apart from a darshan of the deity in the temple, the pilgrims consider a bath in the river Meshwo essential.

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 strenghtened 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 three fold 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.

National parks and sanctuaries

Main article: List of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries of Gujarat, India

Gujarat has 4 National parks and 21 sanctuaries which include: Nal Sarovar, Anjal, Balaram-Ambaji, Barda, Jambughoda, Jessore, Kachchh Desert, Khavda, Narayan Sarovar, Paniya, Purna, Rampura, Ratanmahal, and Surpaneshwar. The Gujarat state of western India has four National Parks and twenty-one Wildlife Sancturies. ...

Gujarat is the only home of Asiatic Lions. Outside Africa, Gujarat is the only natural habitat of lions. Gir Forest National Park in south-west part of the state covers only the part of lion's habitat. Besides lions, the other big cat can be found in the state are Panthers. Panthers are spread across large plains of Saurashtra and mountains of South Gujarat. Trinomial name Panthera leo persica Meyer, 1826 Current distribution of the Asiatic Lion in the wild Synonyms Leo leo goojratensis (India) Leo leo persicus (Persia) The Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica; also known as Indian Lion) is a subspecies of the lion found only in India. ... The Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary (also known as Sasan-Gir) is the sole home of the pure Asiatic Lions (Panthera leo persica). ...

Historic sites

• Lothal is the site of the ancient ruins of the first Indian port, dating from the time of the Indus Valley Civilization.

• Dholavira, the ancient city, locally known as Kotada Timba, is one of the largest and most prominent archaeological sites in India, belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization. It is located on the Khadir island in the Kutch district of Gujarat - the island is surrounded by water in the monsoon season. The site was occupied from about 2900 BC for about a millennium, declining slowly after about 2100, briefly abandoned and then reoccupied, finally by villagers among its ruins, until about 1450.

While the city of Ahmedabad is a large and fast-growing modern metropolis, it was also the home of the Indian Independence Movement, with the Sabarmati Ashram of Mahatma Gandhi a standing legacy. Other major tourist sites include Palitana, Diu, Kutch, Jamnagar, Junagadh, and [[Rajkot[6]]] in the region of Saurashtra; and Champaner and Pavagarh in the Panchmahal district. Ancient Lothal as envisaged by the Archaeological Survey of India. ... Excavated ruins of Mohenjo-daro. ... Dholavira, an ancient metropolitan city, and locally known as Kotada Timba Prachin Mahanagar Dholavira, is one of the largest and most prominent archaeological sites in India, belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization. ... , Ahmedabad (Gujarati: , Hindi: अहमदाबाद ) is the largest city in the state of Gujarat and the seventh-largest urban agglomeration in India, with a population of almost 51 lakhs (5. ... The Indian Independence Movement was a series of revolutions empowered by the people of India put forth to battle the British Empire for complete political independence, beginning with the Rebellion of 1857. ... Sabarmathi Ashram, located in Gujarat, was the residence of Mahatma Gandhi, from where he started the Dandi March. ... “Gandhi” redirects here. ... , Palitana   is a city, a municipality and former princely state in Bhavnagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. ... Diu is a city in Diu district in the state of Daman & Diu, India. ... Kutch (Kuchchh) District, State of Gujarat Kutch (also spelled Cutch, Kachh, Kachch and even Kachchh) is a district of Gujarat state in western India. ... , Jamnagar is a city and a municipal corporation in Jamnagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. ... Junagadh is a city, in Junagadh District, in the Indian state of Gujarat. ... Champaner is a ruined city in Gujarat state of western India. ... Panchmahal, also Panch Mahal, is a district in the western India, in the eastern portion of Gujarat state. ...

Gujarati Cultural

Gujarati Wedding Ceremony

HINDU WEDDING

Marriage is a highly auspicious occasion in the Indian culture. According to the Vedas, the Hindu scriptures, marriage is a sacred life long commitment between a man and a woman. It is considered to be the strongest of all social bonds and is the initiation into a lifetime of togetherness. The Vedic wedding ceremony consists of prayers, invocations, and vows recited in Sanskrit, the most ancient surviving language. The Vedic wedding ceremony dates back to over five thousand years. The ceremony is performed under a decorated canopy, the Mandap. The four pillars that surround the madap represent the four parents. This signifies the important part they have played in raising their children to become the responsible adults they are today. The ceremony is performed before a sacred fire, or Agni, which is the eternal witness of the marriage and all vows taken.

HINDU WEDDING CEREMONY

Baraat (Wedding Procession) The original form of a baraat is a procession from the groom's house to the bride's house for the wedding ceremony. The joyous wedding day begins with the Mangal Vadya, the playing of Shehnai (a traditional wind instrument) and Dhol (Indian drum). Swagatam (Welcoming of the Groom and his Family) The groom and his family are greeted at the doors of the Mandir (Temple) by the bride's parents and family. The mother of the bride then greets and welcomes the groom and his family into her own family. She blesses the groom by placing a tilak (red dot) on his forehead. The groom is then led to the mandap where the wedding ceremony will take place.

Ganesh Puja (The worship of Lord Ganesh) Every Hindu ceremony begins with the worship of Lord Ganesh, deity of peace and wisdom. This is done so people can find strength within themselves to remove any obstacles that may arise. Madhuparka (Welcoming the Groom) While the groom is sitting under the mandap the Madhuparka is performed where his feet are washed by the bride's parents. He is then offered Panchamrut, a liquid composed of milk, yogurt, ghee, honey, and sugar.

Kanya Danam (Giving away of the daughter) The bride accepts her change of status from an unmarried woman to a wife by spreading turmeric powder on her hands. Kanya Danam is performed by the father (or uncle of guardian) of the bride in presence of a large gathering that is invited to witness the wedding.

Vivaaha (Wedding) The bride and the groom face each other, and the priest ties their garments (the bride's saree to the groom's shirt) in a knot, symbolizing the sacred union. The bride and the groom garland each other and exchange the rings.Next the nuptial fire, symbolizing the divine witness, and the sanctifier of the sacrament, is installed and worshipped.

Both the bride and the groom grasp their hands together and pray to God for His blessings. Samagree, consisting of crushed sandalwood, herbs, sugar, rice, ghee (clarified butter), and twigs is offered into the sacred fire to seek God's blessings for the couple.

Mangal Phera (The Circumambulation of the Sacred Fire) The groom holds the bride by the hand and both walk three times around the sacred fire. Both offer oblations and recite appropriate Vedic hymns to Gods for prosperity, good fortune, and conjugal fidelity. They touch each others heart and pray for union of their hearts and minds.

Satapadi (Seven Sacred Steps - Oaths) This is the most important rite of the entire ceremony. Here the bride and the groom take seven steps together around the sacred fire (Agni) and make the following seven promises to each other: As per the Vedic rituals, the groom sings "With God as our guide, let us take":

1. The first step to nourish each other
2. The second step to grow together in strength
3. The third step to preserve our wealth
4. The fourth step to share our joys and sorrows
5. The fifth step to care for our children
6. The sixth step to be together forever
7. The seventh step to remain lifelong friends
8. The perfect halves to make a perfect whole!
The Satapadi ceremony concludes with a prayer that the union is indissoluble. At the end of this ceremony, the groom and the bride become husband and wife.

Mangal Sutra The Mangala Sutra Dharana is the tying of the thread containing the marks of the Vishnu or Shiva on the neck of the bride by the groom.

Suhaag or Sindhoordana The groom places sindoor (red powder) on the bride's hair symbolizing her as a married woman.

Aashirvaad (Blessing) The groom's parents bless the couple and offer clothes or flower to the bride, symbolizing her joining the groom's family. All those assembled at the ceremony shower flowers on the couple and bless them completing the marriage.

Gujarati Dances

Dandiya Raas
Dandiya Raas is a very energetic, colorful and playful dance originating in the state of Gujarat. It's roots lay from the days of Lord Krishna who played raas on the shores of Yamuna river on a moonlit night with his beloved Gopis.

Men and women dressed in colorful clothes dance in two concentric circles - one moving clockwise, one moving counter-clockwise. Men and women carry two bamboo sticks called dandiyas in their hands. In addition to footwork, one of the most enjoyable part of this dance is the creative use of dandiyas.

The song sung on the occasion is essentially an amorous one. Raas is a very playful dance providing opportunity for acting and exchanging messages through eye contact. It is no wonder that many romances bloom during Navaratri and hence the popularity of the dance among the younger generation.

Garba
Garba is a very graceful form of dance mainly performed by females in a circular formation, it is in reverences of goddess Ambaji. The basics of the dance are singing and clapping rhythmically while going around the goddess. Today many modifications are prevalent to the basic pattern and even men are free to join in. Women are dressed in exquisitely embroidered, set in mirrors cholis, ghaghras and bandhani dupattas! Extensive jewelry in the form of necklaces, bracelets and anklets are also worn. The typical dress code of men is kehediyu, chudidar and a turban.

Garbi
Originally men use to perform this dance. It was on the way back from a battle that the victorious army would start dancing to couplets and amorous songs sung by the Charanswar, or the narrators who used to go to the front to raise the spirit during the battle by singing songs of valor. The dance was characteristic for its forceful movements which would fascinate viewers. Today, however, even females participate in the dance.

Padhar
It is performed by a rural community living around NalLake. In it, performers simulate the rhythmic movements of roving mariners and the undulating sea waves. The Bhil tribes, who live close to border tracts, and the Adivasis of Dangs district, have particularly lively folk dances.

See also

• 2002 Gujarat violence
• List of people from Gujarat
• List of Maitraka rulers of Gujarat
• List of Solanki rulers of Gujarat
• List of Vaghela rulers of Gujarat
• List of Muzaffarid rulers of Gujarat
• Gujarati people
• Gujarat in Lok Sabha
• Dholavira
• Parsi

Image File history File links Portal. ... Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... The skyline of Ahmedabad filled with smoke as buildings and shops are set on fire by rioting mobs. ... This is a list of famous and notable people who can trace their ancestry to Gujarat, India. ... The Maitraka dynasty ruled Gujarat in western India from the c. ... For the English cricketer, See Vikram Solanki The Solanki or Chalukya is a Hindu Gurjar,Rajput dynasty of India, who ruled the kingdom of Gujarat from the 10th to the 13th centuries. ... The Vaghelas were an Indian dynasty of Gujarat. ... The Muzaffarid dynasty were sultans of Gujarat in western India from 1391 to 1583. ... Language(s) Gujarati Religion(s) Hinduism, Islam, Zoroastrianism (see Parsis), Jainism, Christianity Gujarati people (Gujarati: ગુજરાતી લોકો Gujǎrātī loko), or Gujaratis, is an umbrella term used to describe traditionally Gujarati-speaking peoples who can trace their ancestry to the Gujarat region in India. ... The 14th Lok Sabha was convened after the election of April-May 2004. ... Dholavira, an ancient metropolitan city, and locally known as Kotada Timba Prachin Mahanagar Dholavira, is one of the largest and most prominent archaeological sites in India, belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization. ... This article is about the Parsi community. ...

References

External links

• Gujarat Government
• Gujarat at the Open Directory Project
• Gujarati websites