A glut of mixed hues, profusion of design, accumulation of culture, abundance of music and dance, all together in the dry lands of Kutch creates a mosaic of beauty which reflects the identity and spirit of the region. Kutch is one of the most ecologically and ethnically diverse district of the state and also a celebratory land of art, crafts, music, dance, people and nature. During the full moon night of the winter, a three-day festive extravaganza known as the Kutch Rann Utsav is held every year amid the awe-inspiring and contrasting landscape brimming with hospitality, vigor and traditional flavor of the area.

This is to recall that a major earthquake destroyed the northern coast of Gujarat in 2001. But after eight years, the colorful Kutch region in western India put the past behind to showcase its ancient cultural heritage and folk traditions at the Kutch Rann Utsav 2009. The venue was a stretch of ground overlooking the Hamirsar Lake in Bhuj town, 400 km from principal city of Ahmedabad. The mega cultural carnival, being held from December 1 to 3, 2009, was inaugurated by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Modi has pitched his state as a cultural, sports, holiday and spiritual destination to grab a large slice of the global tourism pie. The world spends USD 7 trillion on tourism every year and Modi wants a large chunk of the international tourism dollars to come to the state and thus to India.  PIO TV witnessed the chief minister’s address a gathering of 5,000 people on the shores of the historical Hamirsar Lake, also a migratory bird sanctuary, in the heart of Bhuj town. Modi invited visitors to experience the rich heritage of Gujarat.