Have you ever been to Gujarat? If you haven’t already, now is the time to do it, especially during Gujarat’s festivals. These festivals highlight the state’s vibrancy and cultural richness. Gujarat has it all: amazing architecture, tribal artisans, superb arts and crafts, Asiatic lions, sacred pilgrimage sites, mountains and big flatlands, golden beaches, deserts, and migrating birds.
Gujarat Festivals
The vibrant state proudly displays its historical traditions and customs throughout the year through festival celebrations. Almost every festival is special and unique in some way. The Janmashtami and Dahi handi celebrations, the kite festival, and the well-known traditional and colourful Garba organised during Navratri are among of the world’s most well-known festivals.
Kite Festival International
This festival draws thousands of people, including master kite makers from Malaysia who bring their wau-balang kites, Indonesians who bring the llayang-llayanghave, and giant banner kites from the United States, Chinese flying dragons, Japanese rokkaku fighting kites, Italian sculptural kites, and state-of-the-art high-tech modern wonders.
The sky was filled with box kites, high-speed sport kites, windsocks and spin-socks, and hand-painted innovative kites. are really captivating to see. You can also compete in other tournaments hosted throughout Gujarat. Don’t miss out on their scrumptious festival specials.
Rann Utsav: If you want to enjoy white salt deserts, folk music, and dancing, consider a trip to the Rann of Kutch, which is home to the wonderful Rann Utsav. This two-month festival draws thousands of visitors from all around the world. The festival is when you can find lodging in the tent city that sprouts in Dhordo, Bhuj just before the event begins in November and is demolished when it concludes in February.
The Rann Utsav, which is located in a salt marsh within the Thar Desert and covers an area of 7500 square kilometres, is a must-see. From genuine bazaars selling handcrafted items, traditional bandhani sarees and jewellery to experiencing the white sand on a moonlit night and participating in daring activities such as ATV rides, para-motoring, zorbing, hot-air balloon rides, and more. Enjoy Gujarat’s folk culture and wonderful food while seeing folk dances such as Tippani, Garba, and Hallisaka.
There are other Navratri Festivals in Gujarat; however, the fervour for the Hindu celebration Navratri is unlike any other. Every year in September or October, this nine-day dance festival honours Goddess Shakti’s victory over evil after a nine-day struggle. Each day, before the dance, they venerate an avatar of the Goddess, whether it is Garba, Dandiya, or a combination of the two.
Gujarat’s Navratri celebration
You are going to locals in Gujarat start preparing for Navratri months in advance, whether it’s by buying new clothes, adorning their outfits, or working out to get in shape. Prepare to have a great time at the festival by trying your hand at dancing, competing, and browsing the flea markets and exhibitions. Don’t forget to sample some delectable cuisine and refreshments.
Vadodara is one of the greatest destinations in Gujarat to celebrate Navratri. Other cities worth visiting are Surat, Rajkot, and Bhavnagar. In this city, Navratri is celebrated on a grand scale, and the locations are frequently listed in newspapers the next day.
