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Gujarat — Culture,
Heritage & Language

Gir lions, Rann of Kutch, Garba, Statue of Unity

Introduction

Gujarat, on India's western coast, is the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and a hub of trade, industry and entrepreneurship. From the white salt desert of the Rann of Kutch to the lions of Gir, it offers a remarkable mix of geography and culture.

Quick Facts

Capital
Gandhinagar
Largest City
Ahmedabad
Official Language
Gujarati
Formation Date
1 May 1960
Area
196,024 sq km
Population
71,000,000+
Region
West
Type
State
Language
Gujarati is the official language, written in its own script; Kutchi is widely spoken in the Kutch region. Hindi and English are common in business.
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Traditional Dress
Men wear kediyu with dhoti or chorno and embroidered jackets; women wear chaniya choli with mirror-work and bandhani sarees, especially during Navratri.
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Festivals
Navratri — celebrated with nine nights of Garba and Dandiya — is the state's signature festival. Uttarayan (Makar Sankranti) fills the skies with kites; the Rann Utsav showcases Kutch culture.
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Cuisine
Predominantly vegetarian and slightly sweet: Dhokla, Thepla, Khandvi, Undhiyu, Fafda-Jalebi, Khaman, Handvo and the elaborate Gujarati thali.
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Literature
Narsinh Mehta, Premanand, Govardhanram Tripathi (Saraswatichandra) and Jhaverchand Meghani shaped Gujarati literature.
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Art Forms
Bandhani tie-dye, Patola silk weaving of Patan, Kutchi embroidery, Rogan painting and folk dances like Garba and Dandiya Raas.
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Historical Importance
From Harappan ports like Lothal and Dholavira to the Solanki dynasty, Mughal trade, the freedom movement under Gandhi and Sardar Patel, Gujarat has been a continuous centre of commerce and reform.
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Districts & Cities

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