GUJARATIS, OR Gujjus
Names such as Kathiawar, Saurashtra, Gujarat etc is a can be a little confusing. Where the dividing line starts or is meant to be one and the same in the land and where it ends, is anyone's guess. However, this land mass that is north of Mumbai is nothing but eye catching in many ways.
Cities like Porbander, Baroda, Surat, Ahemdabad stand out as the shining stars. Even the great, like Mahatma GANDHI, Krisna, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and the man they called Swaminarayan (Ghanshyam Pande, his original name, was born in Uttar Pradesh, but ended his epic journey in Gujarat, where the temple was established) came from this hallowed land.
Like an army of marching ants, the Gujaratis have marched and filled every corner of the globe. Just what motivates this tenacious character to risk jungles, deserts, and all kinds of foreign lands and great risk to his own life and limb, and hunt for a living, sometimes meager, and even die in the quest?
Gujaratis stand out in their character that is different in many ways from many others.
First, we must define the distinguishing markers of this man, and then note the differences amongst them.
How is a person from Gujarat different from many people we know? Let us try:
As a person you may think that he is selfish, self centered. Loves money. Loves his family. A sense of adventure is in his blood, as long as he can follow an adventure that will make money at a minimum risk. He is thus a follower rather than a leader. Not interested in Politics at all.
Having said that, I am about to negate the whole thing. In fact, the modern day Gujarati is quite the opposite. He is fun loving, out going and has many admirable qualities.
The next question is- Is there really a Gujarati. Apart from coming from an area of the world, comparisons beak down. That is mainly because there are many classes and he is much into a cast system. Thus they have Brahmins, Patels, untouchables etc etc. Not only that, but they even ask you as to what village one comes from immediately pigeonholes a person in the hierarchy of class. Even in the religion, followers of different Gods occur- like followers of Krishna, or Vishnu, when they are called Vishnavites. The person generally has a large inverted U painted on the forehead, with a dot in the middle. It is yellow, and probably is turmeric. Then there are followers of Ram, some of Swaminarayan etc. You get the idea.
The family is very close, and the father is generally the ruler- hence it is a very Patriarchal household. Arranged marriages are not uncommon, and in the past, the person engaged or married can be very young. Even arrangements were made when the kid was in the womb!! Wow.
They enjoy their festivals, like Diwali, Holi, Rakhi and many more. Give and take of food, presents is common, while they dress up in exquisitely beautiful apparel. Weddings are oversone, and whole families are invited. At the wedding, the Maharaj, or priest conducts the ceremony, but no one is listening, as everyone is chatting, and later enjoying the vegetarian food.