***** Rannotsav – The cultural carnival ***** By Arpita Atyunita and Ambuj Saxena The Tourism Department of Gujarat organises the world renowned ‘Kutch Rannotsav’ every year for a period of one month in the desert of Kutch. This time it was held from December 2013 to February 2014. Over the years, Gujarat’s own desert festival has grown into a must visit for globe trotters. Every year hordes of tourists from all over the country and overseas visit Kutch to enjoy the unique experience it provides, an experience which is the outcome of the natural beauty as well as the cultural uniqueness of this place. This year onwards the duration of the festival has been increased to two months to attract the large number of tourists with many new attractions. Kutch has earned significance as a tourist place owing to Gujarat’s Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who dreamt of putting the State on the world map with the unique Rannotsav. Various activities organised by the Tourism Department were designed to give the tourists an unforgettable experience. One such event is the camel safari; where tourists were given to ride on camel-backs on the white-sand deserts, best enjoyed during moon-lit evenings.This year, the Rannotsav has received an enthusiastic response from tourists all over the world. This year, the Rannotsav has been organized under the public-private partnership model by the Gujarat Tourism Department. Kutch Mahotsav or Rann Mahotsav as it is popularly known is a manifestation of the unique cultural ethos of the region. It is known for its ethnic flavour and festive zest. Rannotsav provides an exclusive opportunity to witness the creativity of the artisans and craftspeople, listen to an array of folk music and watch timeless performances. The tourist gets to learn about diverse cultures and communities, along with the scenic natural beauty of the place. This is what defines Kutch and Kutchi people. The festival is visited and enjoyed every year by more than 8000 tourists from all over the world. This is the time for everyone to come together to celebrate the mystical magic of Kutch. A plethora of varied hues, profusion of design, superfluity of culture, cornucopia of music and dance, all together in the arid lands of Kutch creates a mosaic of exquisiteness which reflects the identity and spirit of the region. Kutch, one of the most ecologically and ethnically diverse districts of the state is a celebratory land of art, crafts, music, dance, people and nature. During the full moon night of the winters, amid the awe-inspiring and contrasting landscape, each year a three-day festive extravaganza brimming with hospitality, vigour and traditional flavour of the area is hosted and known as the Kutch or Rann Mahotsav. This carnival organised at the various locales within Kutch takes one around the natural grandiose while introducing the visitor to the indigenous cultural and ethnical flavour of the people. Semi parched grasslands of the Banni host the most magnificent display of vernacular architecture as the exhibition platform for the varied range of arts and crafts of the region, while an array of folk music and dance performances organised in the shimmering moonlit landscape provides the most enchanting experience. The colourful fairs held near the beach or the banks of a lake swings one with the spirit of festivity, fervour and flamboyancy while the organized tour around Kutch is an ideal occasion to be part of the region and experience the zeal and uniqueness of the people through a celebration of life! The article is originally published in The Gujarat (Magazine), Vol-IV, Issue-1.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 10:01:43 +0000
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