| Gujarat has a long historical and cultural
tradition dating back to the days of the Indus valley
civilization established by relics found at Lothal. It is known
for a rich heritage of handicrafts, customs and traditions,
fairs and festivals and an amazing variety of wildlife. This
land is also famous for personalities like Mahatama Gandhi - the
father of the nation, Sardar Patel - the iron man of India and
social reformers like Swami Dayanand Saraswati. Gujarat has
thus been exposed to a succession of alien races and in the
process it has imbibed elements of a variety of cultures, and
yet retained its cultural individuality. The state is renowned
for its holy temples, historic capitals replete with immense
architectural wealth, wildlife sanctuaries, beaches and hill
resorts. The folklore and folk culture of Gujarat can be traced
to the mythology of Krishna, an incarnation of the god Vishnu.
Dances in honour of Krishna have survived in the form of the
popular folk dance, the 'garba'. A folk drama, the 'bhavai',
also has survived. The fascinating handicrafts, mouth watering
cuisine and colourful lifestyle of the people of Gujarat, are
renowned all over the country. |