Gujarat, one of the most industrialized states in India is situated on the west coast of India between 20o-6' N to 24o-42' N north latitude and 68o-10'E to 74o-28'E east longitude. It came into existence as a separate State on 1st May 1960. Gujarat is bounded by the Arabian Sea in the West, by the States of Rajasthan in the North and Northeast, by Madhya Pradesh in the East and by Maharashtra in the South and South East. The State has an international border and has a common frontier with the Pakistan at the northwestern fringe. Ganghinagar, located near Ahmedabad is its capital. At present, Gujarat comprises of 25 districts. The official and primary language spoken is Gujarati.

History
The name of the state is derived from anshua, which means anshua nation. Anshuas were an old clan that was present even during the Mahabharata period, according to another theory, they are one of the Central Asian tribes that migrated to India beginning from around the first century BC. Gujarat's coastal cities, chiefly Bharuch, served as ports and trading centres for the Maurya and Gupta empires. After the collapse of the Gupta empire in the sixth century, Gujarat flourished as an independent Hindu kingdom. The Maitraka dynasty, descended from a Gupta general, ruled from the sixth to the eighth centuries from their capital at Vallabhi, although they were ruled briefly by Harsha during the seventh century. In 775 the first Parsi (Zoroastrian) refugees arrived in Gujarat from Iran. The Arab rulers of Sind sacked Vallabhi in 770, bringing the Maitraka dynasty to an end. A branch of the Pratihara clan ruled Gujarat after the eighth century. From the ninth century until the invasion by the Muslim rulers of Delhi in the late thirteenth century, it was ruled by the Solanki dynasty. History dates back to 2400 BCE when Harappan civilization flourished and planned port Lothal was established.

Gujarat forms an area that housed the regions of the Indus Valley civilization and Harappan sites. Around 50 Harappan sites are found in Gujarat. Lothal, Rangpur, Amri, Lakhabaval, Rozdi etc. are some of these sites. This makes it an important territory that reveals the history of India. The Dravidian tribes were said to be the original inhabitants of this region. Even before the Aryan occupation of Gujarat it is said to have had trade contracts with Sumer, the Persian Gulf in about 1000-750BC. Rock edicts in the Girnar hills indicate that Ashoka extended his domain into Gujarat. It was during the Mauryan rule that this region witnessed the influence of Buddhism. The Mauryans also promoted trade and helped in spread of its culture. In about 150BC the Bactarian Greeks under Meander is said to have instilled their rule. Till 40AD they are said to have had trade contracts with Rome. From about AD130-390 the Scythians ruled it. After 300AD the Guptas established their reign which lasted till 460AD. The Vallabhi established their sway in between (500-700AD). After the death of Harshvardhana, the Gujjars controlled it till 746AD. The Solankis ruled over Gujarat till 1143. Gujarat attained its greatest territorial extend under the Solanki dynasty, from the 9th century. Muhammud of Ghazni attacked Somnath in Gujarat leading to the downfall of the Solankis. The conquest of Ala-ud-din Khilji king of Delhi in 1288 also influenced the conditions in Gujarat. The Sultans of Delhi had their sway over Gujarat from 1298-1392AD. Ahmad Shah I, the first independent Muslim ruler of Gujarat founded Ahmadabad in 1411. Then the Mughals ruled for about 2 centuries till the Marathas terminated their rule in the mid 18th century. It was during the18th century that Gujarat was divided among number of chiefs. From 1803-1827 the British set up their administration. The British East India companies first head quarters in India was at Surat. It was later moved to Bombay. Finally in May1,1960, the state of Gujarat was formed from the north and west portions of Bombay state, the remainder being renamed the state of Maharashtra.

Indian independence movement
Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Morarji Desai, K.M. Munshi, Narhari Parikh, Mahadev Desai, Mohanlal Pandya, Bhulabhai Desai and Ravi Shankar Vyas all hailed from Gujarat. As well, Mohammed Ali Jinnah's, Pakistan's first Governor-General, father was from an area which later became Gujarat. Gujarat was also the site of some of the most popular revolts, including the Satyagrahas in Kheda, Bardoli, Borsad and the Salt Satyagraha.

Geography
Gujarat is the westernmost state of India. It is bounded by the Arabian Sea to the west and southwest, and Pakistan to the north. The state of Rajasthan is to the northeast, Madhya Pradesh to the east, and Maharashtra and the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli to the south and southeast of Gujarat.

Holidays

Like every other state of India, Gujarat also celebrates all the festivals with great zeal and joy. It is known as the land of fairs and festivals. During the festive season, the people visit temples and pray, which is usually followed by a round of merrymaking. The state is swept away by the tides of festivity. There are some festivals which are celebrated particularly in this region only. These festivals provide an opportunity to learn about the cultural heritage of the people of Gujarat. On such occasions, all the government offices observe holidays.

National Holidays

• Republic Day (26th January)
• Independence Day (15th August)
• Gandhi Jayanti (2nd October)

Public Holidays

• Makarsankranti (Kite Flying Festival)
• Bansanta Panchami/Shree Panchami
• Guru Ravida's Birthday
• Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti
• Holi (Holikadahana Dolyatra)
• Chaitra Sukhladi/Gudi Padava/Ugadi/Cheti Chand
• Ram Navami
• Vaishakhi
• Mesadl
• Avishu
• Rath Yatra
• Ganesh Chaturthi/Vinayaka Chaturthi
• Raksha Bandhan
• Hazarat Ali's Birthday
• Maharishi Valmiki's Birthday
• Dussehra
• Diwali
• Govardhan Puja
• Bhai Dooj

The Meghwals are masters of weaving cotton and wool as also embroidery and appliqué work.

The Ahirs believe that they came with Lord Krishna from Gokul in Uttar Pradesh. Most of the communities of Ahirs began with selling ghee (clarified butter) and milk and are now spread all over the state.

The Rabaris are a nomadic tribe always wandering with their herds. The origin of this tribe has been traced back to Sind and Afghanistan though many aspects of this tribe still remain a puzzle for anthropologists. They have been classified into three distinct groups, namely Vagadia, Dhabari and Kachhi. Women of this tribe engage themselves in making elaborate embroidery pieces while the men spend their time tending to their camels and sheep.

Gujarat as a heavily industrialized state of India, attracts lots of outsiders from various parts of India.




Fairs and Festivals

Gujarat can be termed as the land of fairs and Festivals. Thousands of small and big fairs, and festivals are celebrated in different parts of Gujarat every year. The festivals are based on the lunar or solar calendar. Whether the festival is religious, social or related to agricultural, the people of Gujarat enjoy them with the same fervor. Many of the festivals are linked with myths and traditions. A tourist can experience the diversity of the cultural and religious traditions of the Gujarati people during the festival season. The main fairs and festivals celebrated here are International Kite festival, Diwali, Janmashtami, Holi, Tarnetar fair, Modhera Dance festival etc.

Agriculture

Gujarat is the main producer of tobacco, cotton, and groundnuts in the country. Other major food crops produced are rice, wheat, jowar, bajra, maize, tur, and gram. Gujarat has an agricultural economy; the total crop area amounts to more than one-half of the total land area.

Animal husbandry and dairying have played a vital role in the rural economy of Gujarat. Dairy farming, primarily concerned with milk production, functions on a cooperative basis and has more than a million members. Gujarat is the largest producer of milk in India. The 'Amul' products are well known all over India. Among livestock raised are buffalo and other cattle, sheep, and goats. As per the results of livestock census 1997, there were 209.70 lakh livestock in Gujarat State. As per the estimates of the survey of major livestock products, during the year 2002-03 the Gujarat produced 6.09 million tonnes of milk, 385 million eggs and 2.71 million kg of wool. Gujarat also contributes inputs to industries like textiles, oil and soap

Revenues of government
This is a chart of trend of own tax revenues (excluding the shares from Union tax pool) of the Government of Gujarat assessed by the Finance Commissions from time to time with figures in millions of Indian Rupees.

Year Own tax revenues
2000 104,818
2005 138,964

This is a chart of trend of own non-tax revenues (excluding the shares from Union tax pool) of the Government of Gujarat assessed by the Finance Commissions from time to time with figures in millions of Indian Rupees.

Education

Gujarat has 13 universities and 4 agricultural universities. Gujarat also has an Indian Institute of Management , at Ahmedabad and a National Institute of Technology at Surat . Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay is going to start a new campus in Gujarat in the near future.