Goat Market...

Come Friday, and the lane behind Old Civil Hospital in Chowk area turns into a veritable "Goat Market" where people from the vicinity and indulge in Goat Trading (Sounds a mini version of the much maligned HorseTrading!!). Its a worthy sight seeing men holding onto a few Goats and bargaining with a worthy buyer

Mindbend..

"MINDBEND" and "SPARSH" ..Yearly Techno festival of SVNIT which also houses NIFT.... has become a major attraction amongst young budding engineers in Surat. For all surtis wanting to know all about it, log onto www.mindbend.in

SVNIT Festival

Surtis still refer to it as SVR College... though it changed to Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, a premier engineering college in Surat, known to attract the best of budding engineers from all over India.

Their yearly festival aptly called "Sparsh" is a 4 day event that attracts youngsters to get a dekko at the techno feats the students rustle up to showcase their talent.

Admin Wing of SVNIT.. Absolutely immaculate.

Innovative methods of advertising their festival is absolutely interesting!

Planetarium..

A splendid gift by the Surti Rotarians.. the Planetarium, which in its heyday was a great attraction for Surtis. Now closed, it used to be a great destination of the Surti Star Gazers!

Holi...

The festival of Holi brings to mind mythology about the end of all things evil... burnt to ashes! A "Before" and "After" set of pictures taken on Holi outside Icchanath Temple.

Colors on Gaurav Path...

A hot sultry dry afternoon on Gaurav Path.. The riot of colors was amazing!!

Millenium Market..

Millenium Textile Market.. launched at the turn of the millenium aptly designed for 2000 Textile Shops. This site was originally the Transporters Godown, which were then shifted to the outskirts, to avoid heavy traffic congestion on Ring Road.

Shivaji Maharaj & Sahara Darwaja...

Before the Ring Road Flyover was built, there was a major argument when Maharashtrians settled in Surat wanted to put up a statue of Shivaji Maharaj at the crossroads of Sahara Darwaja, which was one of the Gates to enter Surat when it was a walled city. Historians were livid, as they claimed Shivaji looted Surat (Which was then the richest in the region) several times when he wanted money to fund his wars against the Mughal Empire. Finally, as a truce, it was decided to put up a statue showing Shivaji on his horse facing away from the city, so it reminded all of him leaving..!!

Sahara Darwaja Junction as seen from the Ring Road Flyover. This road leads to Kadodara Char Rasta, and onwards to Bardoli.

Surti Republic Day...

Surti's patriotism shows up on 60th Republic Day..!! 2-3 days ahead you would find laaris with the Tricolor all over Tapi Town. Adds to the Surti zest of celebrating festivals, and patriotism with the same fervour.

Moharram..

Moharram... and images of the Tazia procession that winds its way through Kotsafil Road leading onto the Main Road.

Interesting Tazia created by small kids from tiny glass bottles.











The most awaited Tazia is the "Pari" which is kind of an angel with wings. I grew up in the heart of the city, and remember waiting to see this "Pari" and watch in amazement as the wings would flap slowly. That was 3 decades ago!