Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel inaugurated the 2015 edition of Rann Utsav on November 24, 2015 at the tent city of Dhordo. Rann Utsav is a festival of music, dance and culture. The festival offers people the opportunity to watch folk dance performances by more than 32 cultural troupes from across Gujarat, listen to live music and watch artisans and crafts of NGOs.
Speaking at a function to mark the inauguration of newly constructed Bhunga, traditional houses with thatched roof, in Kutch for tourists attending the Rann Utsav, she said the winter festival started in 2005 in the vast stretches of white sands near the Great Rann of Kucth has become world famous.
The ‘White Rann’ the vast landscape on which the festival is held is one of the world’s largest seasonal wetlands and when inundated with water in the monsoons, turns into a salt-impregnated flat land in winter. The sight of the White desert under the light of the full moon and under the light of the rising Sun, is something one must see just once in their lifetime.
The event was first floated as a concept by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in 2006 and has already attracted a record number of tourists. Tourism officials have indicated that bookings for tents are already full till the end of December.
Speaking about the new tourism policy CM Patel said, “Gujarat is home to numerous historic, religious and cultural sites for tourists. The tourism policy pursued by the state government for the last ten years has created jobs. The new tourism policy of 2015 has made it more affordable for senior citizens, housewives, farmers and students.”
Tourism Minister Saurabh Patel added that the State Government has for the first time accorded industry status to tourism under the leadership of Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, as part of her slogan for Gatisheel Gujarat.
