Editing Gujarat (section)

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Gujarat}}

=== Literature ===
{{Main|Gujarati literature}}
[[File:Shrimad Rajchandra and Ambalal.jpg|200px|thumb|Depiction of Shrimad Rajchandra writing ''Atmasiddhi'' in single sitting of 1.5 hrs, one of the longest Gujarati poems based on [[Jain philosophy]].]]
The history of [[Gujarati literature]] may be traced back to 1000 CE. Well-known laureates of Gujarati literature include [[Hemchandracharya]], [[Narsinh Mehta]], [[Mirabai]], [[Akho]], [[Premanand Bhatt]], [[Shamal Bhatt]], [[Dayaram]], [[Dalpatram]], [[Narmad]], [[Govardhanram Tripathi]], [[Mahatma Gandhi]], [[K. M. Munshi]], [[Umashankar Joshi]], [[Suresh Joshi]], [[Swaminarayan]], [[Pannalal Patel]] and [[Rajendra Shah (author)|Rajendra Shah]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gujarati Writers in India, Gujarati Novelists of India, Gujarati Poets |url=http://www.culturopedia.com/Literature/gujarati_gems.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502000438/http://www.culturopedia.com/Literature/gujarati_gems.html |archive-date=2 May 2014 |access-date=20 December 2014 |publisher=Culturopedia.com}}</ref>

[[Kavi Kant]], [[Zaverchand Meghani]] and [[Kalapi]] are famous Gujarati poets.

[[Gujarat Vidhya Sabha]], [[Gujarat Sahitya Sabha]], and [[Gujarati Sahitya Parishad]] are Ahmedabad based literary institutions promoting the spread of Gujarati literature.
[[Saraswatichandra (novel)|Saraswatichandra]] is a landmark novel by [[Govardhanram Tripathi]]. Writers like Aanand Shankar Dhruv, Ashvini Bhatt, [[Balwantray Thakore]], Bhaven Kachhi, [[Bhagwatikumar Sharma]], [[Chandrakant Bakshi]], [[Gunvant Shah]], Harindra Dave, Harkisan Mehta, Jay Vasavada, Jyotindra Dave, Kanti Bhatt, Kavi Nanalal, Khabardar, [[Tribhuvandas Luhar|Sundaram]], Makarand Dave, Ramesh Parekh, Suresh Dalal, Tarak Mehta, Vinod Bhatt, Dhruv Bhatt and Varsha Adalja have influenced Gujarati thinkers.

A notable contribution to Gujarati literature came from the [[Bhagwan Swaminarayan|Swaminarayan]] paramhanso, like [[Brahmanand Swami]], Premanand, with prose like [[Vachanamrut]] and poetry in the form of [[bhajans]].<ref name="Williams">{{Cite book |last=Williams |first=Raymond |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tPkexi2EhAIC |title=Introduction to Swaminarayan Hinduism |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-521-65422-7 |pages=187–190 |access-date=8 August 2020 |archive-date=14 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414154258/https://books.google.com/books?id=tPkexi2EhAIC |url-status=live }}</ref>

Shrimad Rajchandra Vachnamrut and Shri [[Atma Siddhi]] Shastra, written in 19th century by Jain philosopher and poet [[Shrimad Rajchandra]] (Mahatma Gandhi's guru) are very well known.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shrimad Rajchandra |url=https://archive.org/details/shrimadvachanamrutweb |title=Shrimad Rajchandra Vachanamrut |access-date=14 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019221956/https://archive.org/details/shrimadvachanamrutweb |archive-date=19 October 2017 |url-status=live |via=Internet Archive}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Atma Siddhi |url=http://www.rajsaubhag.org/atmasiddhi/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214202803/http://www.rajsaubhag.org/atmasiddhi/ |archive-date=14 February 2018 |access-date=14 February 2018 |website=Shree Raj Saubhag}}</ref>

Gujarati theatre owes a lot to [[Bhavai]]. Bhavai is a [[Folk music|folk]] musical performance of stage plays. [[Ketan Mehta]] and [[Sanjay Leela Bhansali]] explored artistic use of bhavai in films such as ''[[Bhavni Bhavai]]'', ''[[Oh Darling! Yeh Hai India]]'' and ''[[Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam]]''. Dayro (gathering) involves singing and conversation reflecting on human nature.

Mumbai theatre veteran, [[Alyque Padamsee]], best known in the English-speaking world for playing [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]] in Sir [[Richard Attenborough]]'s ''[[Gandhi (film)|Gandhi]]'', was from a traditional Gujarati-Kutchi family from Kathiawar.<ref name="Padamsee1999">{{Cite book |last1=Padamsee |first1=Alyque |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oWsdGDA2j8EC&pg=PA63 |title=A Double Life: My Exciting Years in Theatre and Advertising |last2=Prabhu |first2=Arun |date=11 January 2007 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-14-024071-9 |page=1 |access-date=8 August 2020 |archive-date=14 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414105640/https://books.google.com/books?id=oWsdGDA2j8EC&pg=PA63 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Gujarati cuisine}}
[[File:Gujarati Dish.jpg|thumb|Gujarati thali]]

Gujarati food is primarily vegetarian. The typical Gujarati ''[[thali]]'' consists of ''[[roti|rotli]]'' or ''[[bhakri|bhakhari]] or thepala or rotlo'', ''[[dal]]'' or ''[[kadhi]]'', ''[[khichdi]]'', Bhat and ''[[Curry|shak]]''. [[South Asian pickle#India|Athanu (Indian pickle)]] and ''[[chhundo]]'' are used as [[condiment]]s. The four major regions of Gujarat all bring their own styles to Gujarati food. Many Gujarati dishes are distinctively sweet, salty, and spicy at the same time. In the [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra region]], ''[[chass|chhash]]'' (buttermilk) is believed to be a must-have in their daily food.

=== Cinema ===
{{Main|Gujarati cinema}}
The [[Gujarati film industry]] dates back to 1932, when the first Gujarati film, ''[[Narsinh Mehta (1932 film)|Narsinh Mehta]]'', was released.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 March 2009 |title=Narsinh Mehta |url=http://gujaratirocks.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=57:narsinh-mehta&catid=34:gujarati-films&Itemid=29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512105953/http://gujaratirocks.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=57:narsinh-mehta&catid=34:gujarati-films&Itemid=29 |archive-date=12 May 2012 |access-date=12 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=4 May 2007 |title=NEWS: Limping at 75 |url=http://www.screenindia.com/old/fullstory.php?content_id=15692 |magazine=[[Screen (magazine)|Screen]]}}{{dead link|date=November 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=22 April 2007 |title='Dhollywood' at 75 finds few takers in urban Gujarat |work=[[The Financial Express (India)|The Financial Express]] |url=http://www.financialexpress.com/printer/news/104966/ |access-date=1 October 2016 |archive-date=2 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602081522/https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/news-and-the-ugly-truth/1080794/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After flourishing through the 1960s to 1980s, the industry saw a decline. The industry is revived in recent times. The film industry has produced more than one thousand films since its inception.<ref name="Thou2011">{{Cite web |date=29 July 2011 |title=Golly! Gujarati films cross 1k mark |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Golly-Gujarati-films-cross-1k-mark/articleshow/9401332.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018215219/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Golly-Gujarati-films-cross-1k-mark/articleshow/9401332.cms |archive-date=18 October 2015 |access-date=15 July 2015 |website=The Times of India}}</ref> The Government of Gujarat announced a 100% entertainment [[tax exemption]] for Gujarati films in 2005<ref name="Roy 2005">{{Cite news |last=Roy |first=Mithun |date=3 May 2005 |title=Crisis-hit Gujarati film industry gets 100% tax rebate |work=Business Standard India |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/crisis-hit-gujarati-film-industry-gets-100-tax-rebate-105050301103_1.html |url-status=live |access-date=13 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714025118/http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/crisis-hit-gujarati-film-industry-gets-100-tax-rebate-105050301103_1.html |archive-date=14 July 2015}}</ref> and a policy of incentives in 2016.<ref name="polic2016">{{Cite web |last=DeshGujarat |date=2 February 2016 |title=Gujarat govt announces new policy for incentives to Gujarati films |url=http://deshgujarat.com/2016/02/02/gujarat-govt-announces-new-policy-for-incentives-to-gujarati-films/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204040324/http://deshgujarat.com/2016/02/02/gujarat-govt-announces-new-policy-for-incentives-to-gujarati-films/ |archive-date=4 February 2016 |access-date=4 February 2016 |website=DeshGujarat}}</ref>

=== Music ===
{{Main|Music of Gujarat}}
Gujarati folk music, known as ''Sugam Sangeet'', is a hereditary profession of the [[Barot (caste)|Barot]] community. [[Gadhvi]] and [[Charan]] communities have contributed heavily in modern times. The omnipresent instruments in Gujarati folk music include wind instruments, such as {{transliteration|gu|turi}}, {{transliteration|gu|bungal}}, and {{transliteration|gu|pava}}, [[string instrument]]s, such as the {{transliteration|gu|ravan hattho}}, {{transliteration|gu|ektaro}}, and {{transliteration|gu|jantar}} and percussion instruments, such as the {{transliteration|gu|manjira}} and {{transliteration|gu|zanz}} pot drum.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dance & Music |url=http://www.nri.gujarat.gov.in/gujarat-dances.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213195733/http://www.nri.gujarat.gov.in/gujarat-dances.htm |archive-date=13 February 2012 |access-date=14 February 2012 |publisher=NRI Division [[Government of Gujarat]]}}</ref>

=== Festivals ===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="134">
File:Navratri Garba.jpg|[[Garba (dance)|Garba]] during Navaratri in [[Ahmedabad]]
File:Navratri garba at Ambaji temple.jpg|Navratri Garba at [[Ambaji temple]]
File:Dandiya Raas.jpg|Tourists playing [[Dandiya Raas]]
File:International Kite Festival,India.JPG|[[International Kite Festival in Gujarat – Uttarayan|International Kite Festival]], Ahmedabad
</gallery>

The folk traditions of Gujarat include {{transliteration|gu|[[bhavai]]}} and {{transliteration|gu|[[Dandiya Raas|raas]]-[[Garba (dance)|garba]]}}. ''Bhavai'' is a folk theatre; it is partly entertainment and partly ritual, and is dedicated to [[Durga|Amba]]. The {{transliteration|gu|raas-garba}} is a folk dance done as a celebration of [[Navratri]] by Gujarati people. The [[folk costume]] of this dance is ''[[Gagra choli|chaniya choli]]'' for women and {{transliteration|gu|kedia}} for men. Different styles and steps of {{transliteration|gu|garba}} include {{transliteration|gu|dodhiyu}}, simple five, simple seven, {{transliteration|gu|popatiyu}}, {{transliteration|gu|trikoniya}} (hand movement which forms an imagery triangle), {{transliteration|gu|lehree}}, {{transliteration|gu|tran taali}}, butterfly, {{transliteration|gu|hudo}}, two claps and many more. {{transliteration|gu|Sheri garba}} is one of the oldest form of garba where all the women wear red patola sari and sing along while dancing. It is a very graceful form of garba.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Navratri |url=http://www.gujaratindia.com/about-gujarat/navratri.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725085151/http://gujaratindia.com/about-gujarat/navratri.htm |archive-date=25 July 2012 |access-date=12 February 2012 |publisher=[[Government of Gujarat]]}}</ref>

''[[Makar Sankranti]]'' is a festival where people of Gujarat fly kites. In Gujarat, from December through to ''Makar Sankranti'', people start enjoying kite flying. ''[[Undhiyu]]'', a special dish made of various vegetables, is a must-have of Gujarati people on ''Makar Sankranti''. Surat is especially well known for the strong string which is made by applying glass powder on the row thread to provide it a cutting edge.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kite Festival |url=http://www.gujaratindia.com/about-gujarat/kite-festival.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103200212/http://www.gujaratindia.com/about-gujarat/kite-festival.htm |archive-date=3 January 2012 |access-date=12 February 2012 |publisher=[[Government of Gujarat]]}}</ref>

Apart from Navratri and Uttarayana, [[Diwali]], [[Holi]], [[Janmashtami]], [[Mahavir Jayanti|Mahavir Janma Kalyanak]], [[Muslim holidays|Eid]], [[Chup Tazia|Tazia]], [[Paryushan]], [[Bhavnath fair]], and others are also celebrated.

=== Diffusion of culture ===

Due to close proximity to the Arabian Sea, Gujarat has developed a mercantile ethos which maintained a cultural tradition of [[seafaring]], long-distance trade, and overseas contacts with the outside world since ancient times, and the diffusion of culture through Gujarati [[diaspora]] was a logical outcome of such a tradition. During the pre-modern period, various European sources have observed that these merchants formed diaspora communities outside of Gujarat, and in many parts of the world, such as the [[Persian Gulf]], Middle East, [[Horn of Africa]], Hong Kong, [[Indonesia]], and [[Philippines]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Rai |first1=Rajesh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zb_X3L96AfgC&pg=PA41 |title=The South Asian Diaspora: Transnational networks and changing identities |last2=Reeves |first2=Peter |publisher=Routledge |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-203-89235-0 |editor-last=Rajesh Rai, Peter Reeves |page=41 |quote=The Gujarati merchant diaspora can still be found in the littoral cities of West Asia and Africa on the one hand and in Southeast Asia on the other. |access-date=8 August 2020 |archive-date=14 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414153225/https://books.google.com/books?id=zb_X3L96AfgC&pg=PA41 |url-status=live }}</ref> long before the internal rise of the [[Maratha]] dynasty, and the [[British Raj]] colonial occupation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 December 2012 |title=Even British were envious of Gujaratis |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vadodara/Even-British-were-envious-of-Gujaratis/articleshow/17575976.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928112046/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-11/vadodara/35748553_1_gujaratis-maritime-history-subcontinent |archive-date=28 September 2013 |access-date=25 September 2013 |website=[[The Times of India]] |quote="Most people perceive that British dominated everything in the 19th century when the Indian sub-continent was under their control. But Gujarati merchants, especially those from Kutch, dominated the economy all along the East African coast. So while British were ruling, Gujaratis were making all the money," said Pearson." As financers, they (Gujarati merchants) had agents to collect tax, they had money to provide loans, they dominated the merchandise business and they were also into slavery business at [[Nairobi]], [[Mombasa]], [[Zanzibar]] on the East African coast and to some extent their influence was also on the South African region," he said. "In fact, the dominance of Gujarati merchants on economy was to such an extent that at one point of time the British even complained about it. They, however, couldn't make any difference as most of them were either administrators or soldiers," said Pearson}}</ref>

Early 1st-century Western historians such as [[Strabo]] and [[Dio Cassius]] are testament to Gujarati people's role in the spread of Buddhism in the Mediterranean, when it was recorded that the ''[[Shramana|sramana]]'' monk [[Zarmanochegas]] (Ζαρμανοχηγὰς) of [[Barygaza]] met [[Nicholas of Damascus]] in [[Antioch]] while Augustus ruled the Roman Empire, and shortly thereafter proceeded to [[Athens]] where died by [[self-immolation|setting himself on fire]] to demonstrate his faith.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Strabo, Geography, NOTICE. |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0239&layout=&loc=15.1.73 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004061428/http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0239&layout=&loc=15.1.73 |archive-date=4 October 2008 |access-date=20 December 2014 |publisher=Perseus.tufts.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cassius Dio – Book 54 |url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/54*.html |access-date=20 December 2014 |publisher=Penelope.uchicago.edu |archive-date=25 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925090709/https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/54%2A.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A tomb to the ''sramana'', was still visible in the time of [[Plutarch]],<ref>Plutarch. 'Life of Alexander' in The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans. (trans John Dryden and revised Arthur Hugh Clough) The Modern Library (Random House Inc). New York. p.850</ref> which bore the mention "ΖΑΡΜΑΝΟΧΗΓΑΣ ΙΝΔΟΣ ΑΠΟ ΒΑΡΓΟΣΗΣ" ("The ''sramana'' master from Barygaza in India").<ref>Elledge CD. Life After Death in Early Judaism. Mohr Siebeck Tilbringen 2006 {{ISBN|3-16-148875-X}} pp. 122–125</ref>

The progenitor of the [[Sinhala language]] is believed to have been [[Prince Vijaya]], son of King Simhabahu, who ruled Simhapura (modern-day Sihor near Bhavnagar).<ref>P. 25 ''Historical and cultural chronology of Gujarat, Volume 1'' by Manjulal Ranchholdlal Majmudar</ref> Prince Vijaya was banished by his father for his lawlessness and set forth with a band of adventurers. This tradition was followed by other Gujaratis. For example, in the [[Ajanta Caves|Ajanta]] frescoes, a Gujarati prince is shown entering [[Sri Lanka]].<ref name="ReferenceB">P. 4 ''Shyamji Krishna Varma, the unknown patriot'' by Ganeshi Lal Verma, India. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Publications Division</ref>

Many Indians migrated to [[Indonesia]] and the [[Philippines]], most of them Gujaratis. King Aji Saka, who is said to have come to Java in Indonesia in year 1 of the Saka calendar, is believed by some to have been a king of Gujarat.<ref name="ReferenceA">P. 67 ''An era of peace'' By Krishna Chandra Sagar</ref> The first Indian settlements in the [[Philippines]] and Java Island of Indonesia are believed to have been established with the coming of Prince Dhruvavijaya of Gujarat, with 5000 traders.<ref name="ReferenceA" /> Some stories propose a Brahmin named Tritresta was the first to bring Gujarati migrants with him to Java, so some scholars equate him with Aji Saka.<ref>P. 158 ''Foreign Influence on Ancient India'' By Krishna Chandra Sagar</ref> A Gujarati ship has been depicted in a sculpture at Borabudur, [[Java]].<ref name="ReferenceB" />