By Vrinda Singh
Kutch or the Rann Utsav is one of the most magnificent of its kind, one of the BEST recognized regional festivals that our country celebrates. The efforts by Gujarat tourism, live experiences of people and their stories and the extraordinary photographs makes it glorious in a way that is not less than a fairyland of ethnic flavor and celebrative zest.
Rann of Kutch – History
Since this breathtaking part of India is still little explored and visited rarely by people, it’s quite important to know how Rann of Kutch was formed.
Originally, this region was part of the Arabian Sea and with tectonic shifts over the millennia, the land has risen and now only gets flooded with rainwater and the tidal upsurge of the sea during the monsoon. After the rains, the same land dries out and contributes to being one of the world’s largest salt deserts, spread across 30,000 square kilometers.
Rann Utsav
Surrounded by the vast expanse of the white salt desert and the Arabian Sea beyond, Kutch marks this Indian territory with numerous crafts, traditions, and cultures brimming to the point of brilliance.
The festival begins in November and goes on till late February, which is the winter season. Not only it is awe-inspiring and breathtaking, but also an extensive deserted place which will take you back to the medieval times with no inventions and technology, just the ocean.
Signature Styles
Gujarat’s rich ethnic culture and its craftsmanship along with the mouth watering cuisines is something which is praised worldwide.
At the festival, you get to see a variety of weaving, patchwork, block printing, bandhani, tie-and-dye, rogan-art and other ethnic styles of embroidery, pottery, woodcarving, metal crafts and shell-work.
The variety emerges from the enchanting terrain that provides a perfect backdrop to an extraordinary fair.
One visit and you can see the various ways that there is celebration of colors and joy, in the middle of the rustic white landscape which just makes these colours be more pronounced and vibrant.
Endless Horizon and the Most Beautiful White Panorama
It won’t be an exaggeration when someone boasts about their visit to this wonderful rustic place with talks of the endless horizon that casts its spells on every visitor. Neither will the panoramic view from Kalo Dungar, the highest peak in the Kutch, especially during the lively flaunting festival, will leave you to draw any comparison with this exquisite beauty.
The cherry on top is the amazing kite festival that is also a part of Rann Utsav. Oh it looks just incredible!
The vast white expanse of land, colours at the bottom, colourful kites up in the sky and your soul in between.
The Culturals
The rich cultural extravaganza will not only sooth your mind, body and soul but also refresh your mind and give birth to a love of ethnic music, dance, and food which is much much different from the city life.
You have food stalls in the desert at practically all times of the day, to feed your hungry soul. Music and folk dances on the other hands are core earthly and impressive. Whether be it instrumental or vocals, it will revive the ethnicity.
Tent City
The tent city is a modern par set-up in the white desert with over 400 tents giving you comfort, a luxury of a desert and a village-like feeling as well. The colorful tents in their defined pattern, makes the place look even more magical and wonderstruck.
Hot Air Balloons
Witnessing the white salt desert from a bird’s eye view is going to be even more amazing, making you not want to leave the place at all. The view from the hot air balloons, available during the festival, with the Arabian sea on one side, the sun rising/setting and innumerable colors and lights will make you want to reside up there, forever.
The Sky Full of Stars and the Full Moon
This is something which is incredibly beautiful, even more with Coldplay or pink Floyd playing at the back. With millions of shining stars above your head, on a full moon night in a white desert, and with the best delicacies, what more can you ask for?
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