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Festivals |
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Ahmedabad is the center of Gujarati cultural activities and diverse traditions of different ethnic and religious communities and enjoys a thriving cultural tradition. As such a large number of festivals and events in Ahmedabad are held every year to commemorate a whole lot of ceremonies. The most popular celebrations in this city include Uttarayan and Navaratri.
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->> Details of festivals |
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Kite Festival
:-Uttarayan is the time for kite
festival in Ahmedabad. |
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This event is always held on January 14 to coincide with the festival of Uttarayan
or Makar Sankranti. Though Ahmedabad weather is unpredictable, this day of the year
generally experiences a sunny day with some clouds and wind. Kite flying starts
at dawn and continues throughout the day without pause. Friends, neighbors and total
strangers battle one another for supremacy and triumphant cries render the air heavy
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when one's line is cut by another. This day sees a tremendous variety of kites and
experts can choose whatever they want. Preparations for this mega event of Kite
Festival start quite a few days in advance. Cries of Kaapyo Chhey can be heard in
a million voices throughout the day. It continues long into the nights when driving
lamps (Tukkal) are attached to the flying kites. A journey to Ahmedabad on this
day rewards you with a sky dotted with colorful kites.
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The Kite Festival is one of the famous and popular festivals and events in Ahmedabad
. It is held every year on January 14 to coincide with the festival of
Uttarayan or Makar Sankranti . The day is characteristically
marked by bright sun, clear skies, and breezes strong enough to lift innumerable
kites high onto the clouds. With the summer sweltering still to come, the event
marks an end of the winter. The Kite Festival in Ahmedabad is celebrated
by innumerable people all over Gujarat, with Ahmedabad and Baroda becoming through
years the cities of kite-fliers. With all work forgotten and cares put aside for
the next day, all people rush to watch the magnificent spectacle. Special foods
are prepared to cherish the occasion and eaten in the open fields and parks. Not
even for a moment are the kites forgotten. With the festival marking the movement
of the sun into northern hemisphere, it is time for the sleeping gods to wake from
their long six-month long sleep and open up the portals of heaven. Millions throng
the temples and alms are distributed freely.
A visit to Ahmedabad during the festival will reward you a vision of the sky dotted
with millions of colorful kites, a sight to remain in your mind for a long time. |
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Navaratri
:-Navaratri
is another of the festivals and events in Ahmedabad which has gained nation-wide
reputation. The festival consists of nine nights devoted to Goddess Shakti, when
each night experiences celebration of a different form of the deity. The famous
Garba folk dance continues throughout the nine nights with everyone taking part
with same gusto. Each night starts with a ceremonial aarti and is followed by Garba
dance around the deity till late night. It is a colorful sight to see the graceful
Gujarati women in their best attire dancing the night away with dandiyas in their
hand. The short nights experience a brightly decorated city during this time of
the year. |
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Other festivals and events in Ahmedabad which are celebrated enthusiastically and
colorfully include Deepavali, Holi, Eid-ul-Fitr, and Christmas. The annual Rath
Yatra carrying deities on a rath with hundreds following behind, and the Muharram
are also popular festivals. Arrive on Ahmedabad during any of the festivals and
your vacation is rewarded with a glimpse into the colorful western Indian people,
culture and lifestyle.
Navratri Festival is one of the most popular festivals in India and this festival
is celebrated for 9 nights which starts on the first night of Ashwina.Participating
in the Navratri Festival in Ahmedabad is a fantastic experience in itself and on
the concluding 8th and 9th days of the Navratri Festival, Goddess Durga, Vijayashtami
and Mahanavami are worshipped with great devotion and dedication and Navratri Festival
is followed by Dussera which is celebrated on the 10 th day of Ashwina. |
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Navratri Festival of Ahmedabad is celebrated with great pomp and grandeur and festive spirits
engulf the city of Ahmedabad during the span of these 9 days and every year people
from different communities and social strata come forward to celebrate this few
days of festivities in its true spirits.Ahmedabad is one of the perfect places
in India to get engrossed in the joyous spirit of the festival of Navratri and experience
a genuinely memorable experience and the ambiance is exhilarating and cheerful in
Ahmedabad and the whole city gets ready to relish its Navratri celebration. Navratri
Festival at Ahmedabad is religious in nature and this festival is dedicated to the
propitiation of Shakti or Divine Mother. Navratri is acknowledged as the festival
that epitomizes the conglomeration of religious, devotional, cultural and recreational
activities for almost a fortnight and to be fortunate enough to visit Ahmedabad
during Navratri Festival is to get the opportunity to enjoy the best that the city
has to offer.
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