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Culture of Kutch

Sea, desert, farming and cattle raising are included in Kutch's culture. It also includes people's dress ups, their festivals, their habits and their artistic side.

The clothes worn by Kutchis are more similar to the people of Rajasthan and Sindh. The old style Kutchi clothes really depicts its culture. Villagers here wear 'Cheni'. On 'Cheni', they ware black, yellow and red border thin 'Khes', and on 'Cheni' they wear 'Abho' and put 'Ajrakh' on their shoulders. In old times people (men) used to wear a cap called 'Paagh'. They wear it with different styles. Man without 'Paagh' was considered shameful. If they don't wear 'Cheni', they wear 'Dhoti' made out of thick cloths. Men wear high heel, sharp pointed embroiders shoes. Rabari women wear hot 'Comdi'. Charan women wear 'Dhibdo' that is a blouse fully open from backside. They call Charan women 'Matama' or 'Fui'.

Jewelry of Kutch's Jat, Rabari, Aahir and Charan women depict their culture. Aahir women and children wear 'Haydi' whereas Jat women's women wear 'Vadlo' or 'Mkoda Chakkar' around their neck. 'Huldo' is wear by all women of Kutch.

Muslim women wear artistic ankle bangals called 'Ghunla'. Rabari women's main jewel is 'Akota' that they wear in their nose. It is too heavy and so is supported by a look of hair. Men also wear 'Kadku' in ear.

Many God and Goddess cultural festivals are included in Kutch's life. They believe in 'Mataji's different 'Avatars'. They also worship pirs and Jakkhas. Religion and religious fairs are co-connected in Kutch's culture. One of such fair is at the time of Navratri. Is Navaratri they have fair in Mata's Madh. People come walking for this fair. Among the biggest religious fairs, one is of Jakkha's fair that is the center of Kutch's culture. People from all over the Kutch come here in their traditional dresses.

They all sing songs in fair in night times. In Hajipir's fair not only Muslims but all kinds of people participates in here. Among other religious fair is Bhujya's fair on the day of Nagpachami. Talvana's Ruknshapir's fair, Dhangadra's Dada Mekan's fair and Ramdevpir's fair near Vongh.

In the fair of Dhangadra, people around the world come to watch camel safari that is its main attraction.

Mandvi's Ravadi fair is held on the day of Janamasthami. On the second day they have 'Rathyatra' and at the end of the fair they have a big Rath'. There is one more Ravadi fair of Kharvar. Both of these are famous for Kutch's rural culture.

People do aerobatics shifts, wrestling , play dandiya raas and other kinds of sports.

On the day before Janmasthmi Dhebaias, Rabaris, Machoya, and Aahir casts' people organized Gokulia Weddings. The atmosphere becomes like a festival. The wedding ceremony is held during 11 to 12 in the morning and is performed by Pandit or the elders of the family. In the afternoon, after the wedding they start celebrating Janamasthmi.

The groom is dressed up like a king. He wears traditional dress which is embroider and with the embroider sword in his had.

Fishermen in Kutch do not have fairs, since they have to work most of the time in sea; they sing songs of courage and hard work when they leave for their jobs. Their wives farewells their husbands and breaks coconut as a good omen, and asks sea to protect their husbands. Even the Maldharis that are a kind of gypsies can't fix a fair, as they have to move from one place to another. Any guest to their place is time of festival for them. They cook good food for guests, sings, dance and merry whole night.