Posted on: 13-07-10 06:41:53
Ashadhibeej festival is famous in hindu calander.Ashadhi beej is new year for kutchhis.. They expect rain to come and rainy season starts after this. Ashadhibeej is celebrated in Puri with world famous Jagannath puri yatra...people from all over India and now from other countries come to puri to visit the Rathyatra and they do darshan of Lord Jagannathji. Lord Jagganathji move around the city in a traditional procession . Ashadhibeej is celebrated in Gujarat also with lord Jagannathjis rathyatra which is very famous in Ahmedabad.. Ahmedabad used to have communal riots on this day in past because the yatra passes through muslim area who were not liking the yatra. The famous Lord jagannathjis temple has very big preparation for this day. Lakhs of devotees join this yatra and do darshana of lord Krishna-Jaganathji... Kutchhis celebrate Ashadhibeej in a big way as new year .This day they start new corps and rain also starts coming from this day generally.http://kutchhiashadhibeej.com.
The Kutchi language is classified as an Indo-Aryan language. As the Kutchi people have often been travelers and traders, the Kutchi language has influences of almost every surrounding dialect, and is thus very difficult to learn and translate. Much like English is a mixture of French and German—with traces of just about everything else—Kutchi is technically a dialect of Sindhi (an official language in both India and Pakistan), but is heavily influenced by Gujarati, so much so that when written it uses the traditional Gujarati script.
Due to their geographical closeness, most Kutchi people are either bilingual or trilingual. Those living in Pakistan typically speak and understand Sindhi or Urdu, while Kutchis of India also speak Gujarati and possibly a dialect of Hindi.
Kutch: the second largest province in India, located in the Northwestern state of Gujarat along the border with Pakistan.
Kutchi: the ancient people group who inhabit the Kutch province, primarily made up of fisherman and artisans. Large populations of Kutchi also live in Africa and Pakistan.
One People – Two Continents
As sea traders, the Kutchi built cities along the trading routes of the Arabian Sea, even as far as East Africa where they established homes 200-300 years ago. Today, these two “halves” of the people group hold to their ancient culture in very different environments.
Culture
The first thing most visitors notice about the Kutchi people is color! As many are artisans and craftsmen, Kutchi women wear elaborately designed clothes made by a unique method of tie-dying fabrics. This process creates a sunburst pattern of intensely bright colors. Beyond clothing, this sort of design is also used to make elaborate embroideries used as tablecloths, wall hangings, handbags, bedspreads and more.
Religion
The major religions of the Kutchi people are Hindu and Islam. As the Kutchi people are split between India, Pakistan and Africa, most of their religious affiliation is often dictated by their location. Most of the Kutchi in India are Hindu, most of those in Pakistan are Muslim, and those that have spread throughout Africa and beyond have either retained the religion of their family or have converted to conform to the place where they now live. Sadly, few Christians are known to exist.
Celebrations
In the Kutchi tradition, almost every phase of the moon is acknowledged by either a celebration, fast, or other sort of ritual. Similarly, every day of the year is attributed to a particular god or goddess. Some days are considered fortunate or lucky, while others carry with them a sense of evil and are thought to result in unfavorable events depending on what is foretold by the Paanchaang, a sort of almanac.
Ashadi Beej (mid-July)
This is the celebration of the New Year. According to the traditional Kutchi calendar, known as the Halari Samwat, the New Year begins on the first day of the monsoon season, typically in mid-July. This day is celebrated with much joy and color, and typically involves songs by Kutchi poets that have been written to welcome the rains.
Fair of Mota Yaksh (Sept. 15)
This is the largest festival in Kutch, lasting for three days. Legend claims that angels came to the Kutchi people and taught them the principle artisan skills that form the basis of their culture. It’s held each year 40 km south of Bhuj, at the site of the temple that marks the angels’ coming.
Diet
A majority of Kutchi are strict vegetarians, due significantly to the large Hindu population. Some of the Christian and Muslim populations eat poultry and fish, but the consumption of beef is prohibited due to the Hindu culture and pork is scarcely available to appease the Muslim population. Alcohol in the region has been prohibited in modern times, as the entire state of Gujarat is legally dry to honor it as the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi.
Milk is considered to be a sacred food, offered to guests in order to honor and welcome them. Also, many legal and social agreements are concluded by drinking milk together—including financial transactions, dispute arbitration, and sealing the engagement of a bride and groom.
Economy
Most Kutchi are quite poor, but those living in India have benefited by being in the state of Gujarat, one of the country’s fastest growing state economies. Historically, the major industries of the Kutchi people have been fishing, sea trade, crafts, and farming. Sea trade has diminished significantly as a source of income; however, many Kutchi have opened up small trucking fleets and continue on in the shipping tradition of their ancestors.
Handicrafts are still very important, with much of the world’s fine embroidery still being made in rural areas throughout the Kutchi region. A few corporations organize the worldwide trade of these handmade goods, but unfortunately few of the profits remain in the region.
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mor
Whenever you experience joy, peace, security, equanimity or purity, it is only because you are aligned with ALMIGHTY.
Quote:
Originally posted by peacock1
Ashadhibeej festival is famous in hindu calander.Ashadhi beej is new year for kutchhis.. They expect rain to come and rainy season starts after this. Ashadhibeej is celebrated in Puri with world famous Jagannath puri yatra...people from all over India and now from other countries come to puri to visit the Rathyatra and they do darshan of Lord Jagannathji. Lord Jagganathji move around the city in a traditional procession . Ashadhibeej is celebrated in Gujarat also with lord Jagannathjis rathyatra which is very famous in Ahmedabad.. Ahmedabad used to have communal riots on this day in past because the yatra passes through muslim area who were not liking the yatra. The famous Lord jagannathjis temple has very big preparation for this day. Lakhs of devotees join this yatra and do darshana of lord Krishna-Jaganathji... Kutchhis celebrate Ashadhibeej in a big way as new year .This day they start new corps and rain also starts coming from this day generally.http://kutchhiashadhibeej.com.
The Kutchi language is classified as an Indo-Aryan language. As the Kutchi people have often been travelers and traders, the Kutchi language has influences of almost every surrounding dialect, and is thus very difficult to learn and translate. Much like English is a mixture of French and German—with traces of just about everything else—Kutchi is technically a dialect of Sindhi (an official language in both India and Pakistan), but is heavily influenced by Gujarati, so much so that when written it uses the traditional Gujarati script.
Due to their geographical closeness, most Kutchi people are either bilingual or trilingual. Those living in Pakistan typically speak and understand Sindhi or Urdu, while Kutchis of India also speak Gujarati and possibly a dialect of Hindi.
Kutch: the second largest province in India, located in the Northwestern state of Gujarat along the border with Pakistan.
Kutchi: the ancient people group who inhabit the Kutch province, primarily made up of fisherman and artisans. Large populations of Kutchi also live in Africa and Pakistan.
One People – Two Continents
As sea traders, the Kutchi built cities along the trading routes of the Arabian Sea, even as far as East Africa where they established homes 200-300 years ago. Today, these two “halves” of the people group hold to their ancient culture in very different environments.
Culture
The first thing most visitors notice about the Kutchi people is color! As many are artisans and craftsmen, Kutchi women wear elaborately designed clothes made by a unique method of tie-dying fabrics. This process creates a sunburst pattern of intensely bright colors. Beyond clothing, this sort of design is also used to make elaborate embroideries used as tablecloths, wall hangings, handbags, bedspreads and more.
Religion
The major religions of the Kutchi people are Hindu and Islam. As the Kutchi people are split between India, Pakistan and Africa, most of their religious affiliation is often dictated by their location. Most of the Kutchi in India are Hindu, most of those in Pakistan are Muslim, and those that have spread throughout Africa and beyond have either retained the religion of their family or have converted to conform to the place where they now live. Sadly, few Christians are known to exist.
Celebrations
In the Kutchi tradition, almost every phase of the moon is acknowledged by either a celebration, fast, or other sort of ritual. Similarly, every day of the year is attributed to a particular god or goddess. Some days are considered fortunate or lucky, while others carry with them a sense of evil and are thought to result in unfavorable events depending on what is foretold by the Paanchaang, a sort of almanac.
Ashadi Beej (mid-July)
This is the celebration of the New Year. According to the traditional Kutchi calendar, known as the Halari Samwat, the New Year begins on the first day of the monsoon season, typically in mid-July. This day is celebrated with much joy and color, and typically involves songs by Kutchi poets that have been written to welcome the rains.
Fair of Mota Yaksh (Sept. 15)
This is the largest festival in Kutch, lasting for three days. Legend claims that angels came to the Kutchi people and taught them the principle artisan skills that form the basis of their culture. It’s held each year 40 km south of Bhuj, at the site of the temple that marks the angels’ coming.
Diet
A majority of Kutchi are strict vegetarians, due significantly to the large Hindu population. Some of the Christian and Muslim populations eat poultry and fish, but the consumption of beef is prohibited due to the Hindu culture and pork is scarcely available to appease the Muslim population. Alcohol in the region has been prohibited in modern times, as the entire state of Gujarat is legally dry to honor it as the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi.
Milk is considered to be a sacred food, offered to guests in order to honor and welcome them. Also, many legal and social agreements are concluded by drinking milk together—including financial transactions, dispute arbitration, and sealing the engagement of a bride and groom.
Economy
Most Kutchi are quite poor, but those living in India have benefited by being in the state of Gujarat, one of the country’s fastest growing state economies. Historically, the major industries of the Kutchi people have been fishing, sea trade, crafts, and farming. Sea trade has diminished significantly as a source of income; however, many Kutchi have opened up small trucking fleets and continue on in the shipping tradition of their ancestors.
Handicrafts are still very important, with much of the world’s fine embroidery still being made in rural areas throughout the Kutchi region. A few corporations organize the worldwide trade of these handmade goods, but unfortunately few of the profits remain in the region.
Thanks Peacock,
Never knew so much about Kutchchi history before....
Though, I don`t agree with the last para about economy. This could have been true in the late 50s, not now.
Anyways, thanks for sharing.
Hiren
Hiren
Hi Hiren,
This may not be true when you compare the : KUtchis" of Bombay, however It may be true for majority of population, but , you may be right too as I do not have any latest info on this.
Wish you and all other " Kutchi's" on this forum
A VERY HAPPY, WEALTHY, & HEALTHY " NEW YEAR on this day.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
mor
Whenever you experience joy, peace, security, equanimity or purity, it is only because you are aligned with ALMIGHTY.
Quote:
Originally posted by peacock1
Hi Hiren,
This may not be true when you compare the : KUtchis" of Bombay, however It may be true for majority of population, but , you may be right too as I do not have any latest info on this.
Wish you and all other " Kutchi's" on this forum
A VERY HAPPY, WEALTHY, & HEALTHY " NEW YEAR on this day.
Majority of Kutchchi are no longer involved in fishing & farming. The current trend is more of traders, business people. There is a small percentage in Farming and Crafts.
Thanks for the wishes.
Hiren
A VERY HAPPY, WEALTHY, & HEALTHY " NEW YEAR.
Now a days situation has changed after earthquake due to so many Industries established at Kutch.
People have a lots of money due to sell small part of land which they had it and they are spending money like anything.
My Mom and Dad just came and they told me " Earthqueak brings a lots of economic growth as well Crime too"
i remembered my old days we are use to go outside for walking or in park at midnight and that time was no problem but now a days it is not really too much safe to walk with your family specifically at night time.
Most crime area is Gandhidham, Bhuj, Anjar, Mundra area.
Just for your information.
Anyway again all of you have A VERY HAPPY, WEALTHY, & HEALTHY " NEW YEAR.
cheers.......
