Gandhinagar - Culture and Cuisine

Culture and Cuisine

Most of the communities of Ahirs began with selling ghee and milk and are now spread all over the state.

Wood-carving is an important craft in Gujarat, evident in the many elaborately carved temples, havelis (mansions) and palaces as well as objects of daily and ritual use. Utensils are manufactured by craftspersons in Gujarat.

Gujarat also produces terracotta work, especially votive terra-cotta figurines which are placed in small shrines in forests, along roads, outside villages, on lonely hill-tops and under large trees, especially in south Gujarat.

Jewelry is also produced; each tribe or clan produces unique types of ornaments.

Different states practice different dance forms, classical music and have their own share of folklore. During the prominent festival of Navratri many forms of dances are performed; raas is one of them. Raas is a very energetic and colourful dance in which body language, eye contact, expressions and rhythm play a major part. Two circles formed by men and women revolve clockwise and anticlockwise following the rhythm of the music, while clanging their dandias with their respective partners.

The folk dances of Gujarat, Garba, Raas, and Dandiya have been successful in breaking the confinements of locality, and the festival of Navratri brings together the whole of India. Special dancing competitions and lavish feasts are organized during the holy festival of Navratri. Couple passes are available in all major outlets and huge investments made on these functions.