Great Rann of Kutch
India is a country of numerous festivals. Among all these festivals Rann of Kutch is one of the most popular festivals in Kutch Gujarat. Each year during the winter kutch Gujarat host Raan Utsav which means ”Desert Festival”.
This festival is filled with music, dance, nature beauty of White rann and much more than when you visit under the full moon. Kutch Raan Utsav is the shimmering landscape that gives the enchanting moments of this Fest, which feels like Heaven on Earth during festival time.
In fact, it’s a family holiday to explore fun moments and store in cameras for a long time. Last year rann Utsav was celebrated from 1st November to 20th February.
Rann of Kutch Beauty
Kutch, located in the State of Gujarat, is blessed with one of the most ecologically and culturally abundant landforms. The brimming profusion of nature’s beauty, culture and tradition, superfluity of colors and celebration, cornucopia of joy and beauty, all together reflect the magnificence of the kaleidoscopic Kutch.
Particularly, the spectacular sight of boundless white desert under the moonlight presents the stunning creation of nature, unique to this world.
The distinctive folk dances and music, intricate arts and crafts, gracious people and nature along with the affluent handicraft culture of the district like folk textiles, exquisite embroidery, Bandhani sarees, traditional ornaments and mirror work are some of the specialties of Kutch, Gujarat, India.
Culture Of Kutch(Art, Music, Culture)
The Kutch district in Gujarat is well known for its traditional and cultural values. Kutch Culture is famous for its creative art. They speak Kutchi language.
Culture of Kutch has different communities such as nomadic, semi nomadic still living. The houses in Kutch are very creative and civilized. Culture in kutch is very artistic.
The Kutch people are almost vegetarian and the main food include bajra and milk. They drink buttermilk while having lunch. Kutch is a creative region in india in the field of textile art. The embroidery work which is done in a very intense manner and it seems to be very attractive.
The speciality of this region is embroidery work with different styles such as mirrors. Tatoo is the main Culture in Kutch.
A) Kutch Folk Music
Kutch district is very fond of Kutchi Folk Music and its plays a vital part of everyone’s lives. The foundation of the folk music is existed since the ancient period.
Music is like harmony and the way through a man can show his feeling and sentiments. There are various instruments such as Dholak, Damaru, Murli, Nagara, Sarnai, Flute, Duff etc. Musical Instruments are linked with various aspects of people and their religion.
B) Kutch Folk Dance
Kutch culture also includes kutchi folk dance. In culture of kutch folk dance is the oldest form of dance. These are different forms of folk dance such as Dandiya Raas and kutchi Gajiyo. These are modern forms of dandiya know as disco dandiya.
C) Kutch Handicrafts
Kutch is being considered to be a heaven for numerous handicrafts, which are carried on from generation to generation. The traditional basis of its property has been foreign trade in various handicrafts.
The artifact of Kutch moved not only the length and breadth of the country but also in the overseas market. The main handicrafts of embroidery of ethnic style, patchwork, terracotta, pen knives and nut crackers.
D) Embroidery
Kutchi people weave their dreams in different forms of embroidery. Kutch is renowned for its mirrored embroideries. Most of these were traditionally stitched by village women, for themselves and their families, to create festivity,
honor duties or to generate wealth. Embroideries contributes to the substantial economic exchange required for marriage and fulfilled other social obligation which required gifts.
E) Wood Carving
It is one of the best handicrafts of Kutch. The Harijan people living in Dumaro and Ludia are master craftspersons of wood carving. They make various utensils like pastel roller, chapati disc, bottles, small tables, glass etc. of the wood doing the attractive carving.
Generally they use teak wood and locally available bahuv wood to prepare the fine artifacts.
F) Mud Wall Painting
House in Banni area are living museums of beautiful paintings Rabari and Harijan womens folk traditionally experts in depicting their dreams in painting .
They turn houses into homes. The clay collected and mixed with camel dung and kept for a few days. Then it is kneaded to obtain sufficient plasticity and designs are worked on the mud wall using this clay mixture.
Rann of Kutch Tourism
Virtually an island that resembles the shape of a tortoise, Kutch is an erstwhile princely state of India holding onto its grandeur nature from the past.
Kutch is probably one of the most beautiful, yet surreal places in India. With the vast expanses of white salt desert in the Rann of Kutch area, this is an amazing experience to witness. One would be able to see just stretches of pure white land as far as the eyesight goes.
The place comes to life during the winters when the Rann Festival is held during December-February everywhere in which there are huge camp settlements with cultural programs, functions and adventure activities like hot-air ballooning. Kutch is also among the largest district of India with a terribly low population density.
Also, Kutch lies on the India-Pakistan border and you can see parts of Pakistan from Kutch. Kutch is also famous for crafts and embroidery works, Flamingo Sanctuary and Wild Ass Sanctuary. Bhuj is an ideal starting point to visit the Rann of Kutch.
Beautiful beaches of Mandvi near Bhuj are also totally worth visiting during your trip to Kutch. Don’t miss to see the ancient town of Dholavira.
Best Street Food Of Kutch
there are many street food of good but vada pav, the cone, and badeli.
a) Vada Pav
Vadapav is a Maharashtrian street food that is very popular in Gujrat too. We have an Ahemdabadi version of Vada pav which is dunked in butter and garlic chutney, but the Kutchi version was absolutely different. They served loads of mini chilly pakoras along with the Vada pav.
b) The Cone
When we say Cone we naturally think of ice cream, but this is a savory cone made of all-purpose flour. The cone size is just like an ice cream cone. The vendor has a stove where he has a masala or stuffing made of spiced potatoes.
He stuffs a little of this stuffing in the cone, adds some chutneys, tops with spicy peanuts, and repeats the process. Definitely a very delicious savory cone.
c) Dabeli
Dabeli is a Kutchi street food and is popular all over the world now, but in Kutch you get dabeli in umpteen variations. One variation which made me curious was the Ice Dabeli.
I wondered what it would? Can you guys guess? …well this Dabeli was made in a slightly different manner with chilled curd and chutneys, hence the name Ice Dabeli.
Why Should You Visit Raan Utsav in great Rann of Kutch??
1. The White Desert Sunrise and Sunset: When we think of sunrise and sunset oceans and mountains will come to over mind. A desert will never come up to our mind. Every sunrise and sunset is glorious but there is none other than White Desert.
The salt-crusted land looks beautiful in the changing light of Sun at the dawn and dusk. This experience will make visit to Kutch Rann Utsav an unique experience.
2. Temples and Museum: The Swaminarayan temple located in Bhuj city is an architectural marvel made of marble, it attracts devotes and travellers across the world. The building was destroyed completely under the earthquake in 2001 but it has been rebuilt again with contribution of devotes from overall world.
4. Mandvi Beach: It is the most finest beach situated along the 1666 Km long Gujarat coastline. The Mandvi beach is very peaceful place. It is a holiday spot for Honeymooners, Family and youngsters. The air is breezy and the sun kissed sands make the place worth visiting.
5. Kala Dungar (Black Mountain): This is the highest point in Kutch. This place
to be in ones list to visit without fail. The views of Kutch is breath-taking from this point. There are ample of photographic opportunities available from this spot.
