Gujrat, the hub of terrorist activities, the spot for communl roits, the Dry state, the place which is even cursed by nature... this is what comes to one's mind when they think of Gujrat.
Wrong!!! What i feel is that it is the most Vibrant state of India!!
I have been in Madhya Pradesh, uttar Pradesh, Orissa, tamil nadu and many different places in India but what i found is that gujrat is the most fascinating one, most vibrant, most cultured, most developed state of India.
I recently witnessed the Kite Festival otherwise called Uttrayan or Makar Sakranti(in Northern Part of India) and Pongal (in southern). I was astonished by the way these people celebrated it. So pure and intacted to Indian Customs and tradition the celebration was that all my idea about having fun with dance masti and party went off. I had Holiday. went to my grand uncles place empty handed not in a celebration mood cos i never knew it will be so vibrant, As soon as i reached there to my wonder I could see no sky, rather I could see colorful kites some green other yellow and red, some plain others with stripes. some with photos of film stars others with cartoon characters some as big as 10 fts long some as small as 2-3 inches, some with messages of peace others with message of unity. It was Vibrant to see that. Birds also made thier way out so that these kites can deliver the message they wanted to deliver. The message of unity, peace and humanity. To my wonder there were atleast of 100 kites in 5m X5m area. These Kites are generally sold by Muslim People here in Gujrat for the festival of Hindus.(Still we think gujrat as a hub for communal roits). As soon as i reached my grand uncle place all my uncles there kids and everyone known and unknown greeted me. Then i had traditional jalebi and Undhiya for my lunch. I along eeith my uncle and few of his friends went to small city area to fly kite. In this area the roads are 5-6 ft wide, narrow and calm. Every house were arond 60 to 80 yrs old constructed with the ancint way of constructions. All made up of Wood which now turned Black. Big Pillars sheding thier polish andd material and big galleries in front of every home with the wooden Paraphet with the openings in different Patterns. It was wonderful. I could See temples and Dargahs sharing common walls and streets. I saw hindus having belief in dargah cos they think thier bussiness is running cos of the blessings of dargah. I could see no riots, i could see no cries, i could see no batle, i could see no blood!! It was all cool , calm and peaceful.
I climbed the terrace of my uncle's friend's house. It was a Stair case covering of 3 X 10 ft with around 18 ppl on it(imagine) and around 6 ppl flying kites. Down on the Terrace music with latest remixes of bollywood, gujrati songs was played. Elderly ppl aroun 20 in numbers were sitting on the terrace and were watching us flying kites. They at regular intervals brought Sugarcane juice, sweets, water, snacks etc. We were involved in kites and watching nice cheeks around on our and neighbours terrace. Kite one after another we fight in the sky "arey vo nili vali kaat nahi vo lal vali fasi hai arey kheech nahi chod arey vo neli vali peeche vali ladki ki hai oosne apni peechli patank kati thi kaat ooski patang..... aoor vo kheecha..lapet lapet lapet..." arey yaar ye neeli vali to apne bagal vale ki thi. This is how it happened. By the evening We started bursting crackers celebrating diwali on the same day. Suddenly some one cam with the plan of Garba. We got all our dandiya sticks started the music and there goes "Oh mhari maharani ko jake kehna gharba khelo re" it was all un till 8 in the night. I ws all tird but it was not all over. Abhi to rat baki thi. Then me long with uncle and his friends went to icecream parlour had nice cheap and tasty Lassi and Kulfi. Then was tour to sabarmati. We came on Ellis Bridge on River Sabarmati. we sat around in one corner watching the Glowing kites. Yes!! In nights also people fly kites there craze have no limit. Kites in the night have Shinning materials like radiums attatched to them. Few carry covered candles with them few are electrinics which have small lamps atatched to them. The whole sky was full of these artificial stars. Dim but powerful as sun cos they are spreading the message of peae. love and humanity to the outer world. It appeared like everyone of us wanted to convy to this world that there is nothing wrong in this state, we live here happily with love and harmony. After the shower under the empty dark and silent sky with these small gliteering kites i went to the busiest suare of Ahmedabad. This is called Manik Chouk. A place for foodies. You get everything here. I was so full eating all the day that couldn eat much then a Pav Bhaji. a ice Sweet Ice Chilled Pan and Back to Gandhinagar. Carrying all the memories of Vibrant Gujrat. Carrying a lesson that if Celebrate then Celebratelike Gujratis. No wonder I am Astonished to what I Experienced.
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