Sangai Festival and Rann Utsav, a tale of variation
Source: The Sangai Express / Jiten Athokpam

Imphal, December 03 2011: The recently concluded Manipur Sangai Tourism Festival which has become an annual event over the past few years has a lot of things to learn from Rann Utsav 2011 sponsored by the State of Gujarat.

Hectic preparations are on to hold Rann Utsav 2011 at the sea-side village of Dhordo in Kutch district of Gujarat close to Indo-Pakistan border from December 9 to January 15 next year.

Even though not a blade of grass grows in Dhordo nor any sound of birds' chirping could be heard, safari tours are being organised as a part of the festival.

The festival would also feature folk dance, folk art, camel safari, live-in tents, Kutchi Bhungas (mud huts) etc.

The main attraction of the festival would be the 'white desert' which looks like it is covered with ice.

The white desert is a saline coastal plain located within greater Rann of Kutch.

Rann of Kutch is also known as the Largest Area of Nothingness and it is 200 miles long from East to West and 100 miles long from North to South.

It remains inundated during rainy season.

Mud huts constructed at the Rann Utsav 2011 complex in Dhordo village of Gujarat

Kutch district is the second largest district of India and it is more than twice the size of Manipur.

It is recorded that pastoral communities started visiting the Rann of Kutch from 150 AD.

Many Harrapan sites were also discovered within the district.

Art and craft products produced in Kutch are known all over the world.

One of the objectives of Rann Utsav 2011 is to promote art and crafts of Dhordo village.

A resort has also been developed in the village in the form of an oasis and it is run by Dhordo Gram Panchayat.

The resort is made of mud and roofed with reeds in traditional form though it is air-conditioned.

The rooms are decorated with traditional garments and paintings.

In addition to the resort, a tent city of around 440 tents was being developed.

The festival which is expected to be attended by around 30,0000 visitors including foreigners would be opened by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on December 9 .

Meanwhile, Gujarat Cabinet has adopted a resolution to prohibit all kinds of liquor at the festival.

It was also decided not to offer any non-vegetarian food during the festival.

Kutch district headquarters Bhuj is connected by railway, road and air.

It is 403 Kms away from Ahemadabad.

The recently concluded Manipur Sangai Festival and Rann Utsav have vast difference in the mode of preparation as well as selection of venues.

Whereas Manipur Sangai Festival was held in the State capital, Rann Utsav is being organised in a far corner of Gujarat, as was discovered at a recent visit to the border State by a team of mediapersons from Manipur under the sponsorship Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Govt of Manipur.