#Ahmedabad- The walled city has all the ingredients. It is rich in tradition, architect, cuisine, and culture to honor the label of India’s first world heritage city.
From the rule of Mujjafraid dynasty to British, the textile hub to the forefront of the Independence movement or the tale of Maharishi #Dadhichi to #Gandhi,
The city had too many tales to cherish!
There are numerous rationales behind it being crowned with this title but more importantly, the city is a ‘Living Heritage’. It bears testimony to culture, tradition, architectural monuments and food, art, apparels, and long lost tales and fables.
Taking forward the legacy of 600+ years:
On consultation of great saint Manekbaba, the foundation stone of Ahmedabad was laid on 26th Feb 1411. That place is known as ‘Manekburaj’. The descendants of the saint and proud citizens of Ahmedabad offers prayer at his Samadhi at Manekchowk followed by flag hoisting rituals at Manekburaj.
During the rule of Badshah Ahmedshah, music was played to announce sunrise, sunset, and arrival of the Emperor or other dignitaries. That music was known as ‘Naubat’ or ‘Naqqar’. The beauty is that this tradition is being upheld by the direct descendants of the original musicians who were appointed by the Badshah. Nowadays, it is being played twice a day without fail.
The lamp that has been burning for 600 years for 365 days 24*7 was related to Siddiqui Kotwal who was posted at Teen Darwaja. He had once stopped a beautiful woman from leaving the city. On inquiring, he came to know that the woman was none other than Goddess Laxmi herself. He came to know she was leaving Ahmedabad permanently. Goddess Laxmi is the Hindu deity for money and prosperity. It was not a matter of Goddess leaving the city to him; it meant that the prosperity of the city Ahmedabad is leaving. He stopped her leaving Ahmedabad city without seeking permission from Badshah Ahmedshah.
Interestingly, he took a promise from the Goddess that she would stay there till the time he returned. The guard sacrificed his life as he wanted Laxmi to stay intact in the city. The Goddess kept her promise and her word and never left the city.
In memory of the guard’s sacrifice, a lamp burns at Teen Darwaja 365 days 24*7 and this is how the custom is taking forward its promise to the goddess.
Badshah Ahmedshah believed that ‘no one should ever sleep hungry’. Hence to fulfill his desire, he established ‘Langar’ – a kitchen that serves food to the community. Every day seven kg of ‘khichdi’ served 50-55 people. This tradition continuous 364 days a year except for the death anniversary of Badshah Ahmedshah.
One of the most important was the aspect- ‘Pol’ which is a housing arrangement and is considered to be the best example of a living society. Built 600+ years ago and developed on the concept of vastrusastra and environment recognition. People are still living in these 600+ years old housing arrangements and still follow those old traditions, cultures, and brotherhood.
UNESCO mentioned about Ahmedabad that, ‘bearing testimony to a cultural tradition or civilization which is living or has disappeared,’ ‘representing a masterpiece of human creative genius,’ and ‘exhibiting an important interchange of human values over a span of time, or within a cultural area of the world,’ among several others.