Rann Utsav

Rann Utsav
Rann Utsav; રણ ઉત્સવ
	Rann Utsav - The Tent city
	Coordinates: 23°15′19″N 69°40′01″E / 23.255400°N 69.666887°ECoordinates: 23°15′19″N 69°40′01″E / 23.255400°N 69.666887°E ⧼validator-fatal-error⧽; ;
Country	India
State	Gujarat
District	Kutch

Rann Utsav is a cultural and artistic festival which is organized by the Gujarat Tourism Department every year. The festival exhibits traditional Indian art forms of India and celebrates the uniqueness and diversity of the Kutch district highlighting the cultural splendour of Gujarat. The Rann Utsav has a variety of programmes like cultural and folk dances, craftsmanship, music, carnival processions, pageantry, etc.

People from various parts of the country gather during the festivities to celebrate the splendid ‘White Desert’ and the spirit and warmth of the people of Kutch. Many cultural activities and programmes are organized during the Utsav that engages each visitor. There is a splendid display of arts a

nd crafts of the region. The most captivating experience is the showcase of different art forms, dances and music during the chilling winters under the full moon. Visitors can enjoy living in tents, sit by the evening bonfires, watch artisans work, dance with local folk dancers and enjoy camel safaris.

History[edit]

It is the brainchild of the Tourism Department of Gujarat. The Modi Government took the responsibility to bring to the world the enchantments of these salt deserts that later ushered an era of growth and development upon this land. They brought in better roads, water supply, electricity, infrastructure, technology and everything that this otherwise secluded land deserved rightfully. Rann Utsav came under a PPP (Public Private Partnership) in 2013 to give it the much-needed impetus. Lallooji & Sons, an Ahmedabad-based events and exhibitions service provider was appointed as the private partner in this prestigious partnership.

Impact[edit]

The tourism boom driven by the annual Rann Utsav being celebrated since 2005 has changed the financial landscape of the 25-odd villages in this barren salt pans of the Rann of Kutch. These barren villages bordering the Pakistani sand dunes on the West and the marshy coastal patches to the East leading to the town of Bhuj in Gujarat were reduced to heaps of debris after the January 26, 2001 earthquake that left over 12,000 people dead and tens of thousands injured.

And the steady rise in the number of tourists reflects the increasing economic well being of these sparsely populated villages. In 2017, as many as 2.23 lakh tourists visited the Rann Utsav compared to 2.01 lakh in 2016, recording a decent 11% growth, according to data from the Gujarat Tourism. The festival, celebrated from November 1 till mid- February every year, has helped rejuvenate the nearby 25-odd tiny villages, mainly housing culturally rich semi-nomadic tribes who were hit hard after the deadly tremor. But thanks to their arts, these villagers who are very good craftsmen, are a better lot today and make a decent living from selling their wares to the milling tourists. Gujarat Tourism