Kutch, Cutch, Kachch

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Kutch, Bhuj, Jakhau

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Liberating 'gora' gods of rural Kutch By Tridiv Vaidya, The Times of India, 10 Sep, 2006

The Times of India

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BHUJ: At a time when the heat of racial profiling is sinking Indians in US and Europe, a tiny village in Kutch plans to mark 1,300 years of freedom from a 'tyrant king' by worshipping 72 'gora' idols.

On Sunday, thousands of villagers will gather for the annual fair at Mota Jakh village in Nakhatrana taluka, 34 km from here.

The highlight of the fair are the idols of the Europeans, who sailed to Jakhau port in the 8th century, saw the plight of locals and fought against their king to liberate them.

Legend has it that king Rao Punro had made life miserable for people of the local Sanghar community.

One day, 72 Europeans — referred to in local folklore as Jakh — landed on the Kutch shore and set up camp on Kakadbhit hill near the present Bhuj-Nakhatrana highway. Soon they waged a war against the king and finally killed him.

While sociologists say its a rare instance of 'foreigners' being revered as gods in India, Ambalal Patidar of Sayra village says his faith does not diminish because they aren't Hindu deities... "These goras saved our forefathers once. We are indebted and owe our existence to them," says Patidar, who bought new clothes to attend the fair.

At Mota Jakh, there was excitement on Saturday evening as people began pouring in. "It is a big occasion for us, this thanksgiving of sorts," says 59-year-old Valji Sanghar.

Three temples were constructed at Mota Jakh, where the main fair is held, at Madhapar and Bidada village in Mandvi taluka, these gods are depicted as rising horses there.

Mota Jakh sarpanch Dhiru Patel said: "We have all grown up on legends of the heroic deeds of these gods, whom we call Jakhs as they landed at Jakhau port."