Heritage: Kutchi web site

[Gul Agha <agha@CS.UIUC.EDU>]

You might want to check out:

http://www.kutchindia.com/

for information about Kutch: culture, archeology, wildlife, folk
music, etc.  You'll also find some nice photographs of Kutch and its
artifacts.

From the website:

CULTURE

        Kutch is a huge region, included in Gujarat state, but Kutch
        has an unique culture and different languages "Kutchi".
        Culture of Kutch has little bit mixture of Gujarati and Sindhi
        culture and religious tradition of Hinduism, Islam and
        Jainism. Kutchi language is also very near to Sindhi
        language. Gujarati and Rajasthani words also found in Kutchi
        language.

The customs and traditions of Kutch are also very similar to Sindh.
At least the border population in the north have still a great
cultural affinity with the people living accross the border. There
were many recognised routes through the difficult terrain of Rann
which remained cut off during the monsoon days.  However camels were
used as the chief mode of transportation.  Even bullock carts and
horses were also used when the Rann was dry.  Incidentally Kutchi
horses were very famous those days but there is no trace of them
now. The Rann tracks gets washed away with the weather conditions and
terrain were always hostile to the travellers, tradesmen and invaders
alike.  Only brave men could cross the Rann.

        Kutch remained a remote area during the Mughal period and the
        British days. However, the princely state always enjoyed a very
        special independent status. Kutch rulers were exempted from
        paying taxes and tributes to mughal rulers; however the state
        was obliged to provide safe passage to muslim pilgrims to the
        holy Mecca via the sea route.

There is a distinct culture of Kutchis as compared to Gujaratis. Sufi
saints and fakirs had strong influence on Kutchis. The name of "Mekan
Dada", a great fakir, was known to rescue lost travellers from the
vagaries of the Rann.  Rao Desalji was a follower of Saint "Mekan
Dada" who was always seen with his pets, a dog and a donkey.