70 years after independence, india is still a diverse, ever evolving assortment of cultures, creeds, religions and languages. Heading off the well worn tourist path, were on a journey which spans this vast subcontinent from east to west. Travelling from one of the driest places on earth. It is quite incredible, the sand. Its just crystal, hard cystals. White salt. You can probably taste it. To one of the wettest. These are areas really for the adventurous traveller. This isnt india on tap. Im on a quest to find out how history, religion and politics have shaped india. And also meet the people who call this intriguing and sometimes overwhelming country home. Its going to be an amazing journey. For thousands of years, india found its riches and influence through international trade. At the heart of this enterprise was the sea. And the state of gujarat, with 1,000 miles of coastline, served as a Shipping Gateway to africa, arabia and beyond. This is as far west as you can get in india. It
And 70 years after independence, india is still a diverse, ever evolving assortment of cultures, creeds, religions and languages. Heading off the well worn tourist path, were on a journey which spans this vast subcontinent from east to west. Travelling from one of the driest places on earth. It is quite incredible, the sand. Its just crystal, hard cystals. White salt. You can probably taste it. To one of the wettest. These are areas really for the adventurous traveller. This isnt india on tap. Im on a quest to find out how history, religion and politics have shaped india. And also, meet the people who call this intriguing and sometimes overwhelming country home. Its going to be an amazing journey. For thousands of years, india found its riches and influence through international trade. At the heart of this enterprise was the sea. And the state of gujarat, with a thousand miles of coastline, served as a Shipping Gateway to africa, arabia and beyond. This is as far west as you can get in
And a resort. it s a honey pot for the booming middle classes in india, in what has been one of the fastest growing economies in the world. the revival of interest in kutch culture boosted by the festival has been a lifeline for one group of locals in particular. folk musicians. music in particular and it s very, very rich over here. previously they used to perform with their cattles, then afterwards, when they come home, they d get together and spiritual songs are being performed. one person plays two flutes at the same time? yes, yes. now, for example, 500 cattles are there and only one shepherd is there. he will sit below a tree and start playing this and whatever this musical notes, the cattles will not
Go out this afternoon range. wow. and they enjoy the music so the milk output increases. almost like meditation. yeah, yeah. things are change definitely, as you say tourism. so many music festivals are there. so they are invited in various parts of india and abroad. of course, they re very well paid. not only do i get a demonstration, but also the privilege of playing along. as lead tinkler. yet again, i m made aware that kutch culture is all about a sense of community and certainly not about religious segregation.