STANDARD 4 SOCIAL SCIENCE

CHAPTER:10 STATES IN WESTERN DESERT

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:- ֍ Food and culture of people in western desert ֍ Tourist places in the desert region ֍ Food and culture of people in Gujarat state Click on the following link for better understanding of the chapter https://youtu.be/ug4lsP9sYnU

WESTERN DESERT The Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert, is a large arid region in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent that covers an area of 200,000 km² and forms a natural boundary between India and Pakistan. It is the world's 17th largest desert, and the world's 9th largest subtropical desert.

Rajasthan Rajasthan is a state in northern India. The state covers an area of 342,239 square kilometres or 10.4 percent of the total geographical area of India. It is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population.

The capital city is Jaipur, in the east-central part of the state. Rajasthan meaning “The Abode of the Rajas,” was formerly called Rajputana, “The Country of the Rajputs” (sons of rajas princes).

Occupation Agriculture is the main occupation of Rajasthani people in Rajasthan. Major crops of Rajasthan are jowar, bajri, maize,

ragi, rice, wheat, barely, gram, tur, pulses, ground nut, sesamum, etc.

Rajasthan is a mineral-rich state and has a diversified economy having agriculture, mining and tourism as its main engines of growth. The state mines produce gold, silver, sandstone, limestone, marble, rock phosphate, copper and lignite. It is the second largest producer of cement and contributes one tenth of the salt produced in India.

Some of the handicrafts and handlooms of Rajasthan include

Jewellery - silver, kundan and minakari, Textile, Precious and Semi-Precious Stones -gemstone, Paintings, Leather craft, Marble Handicrafts, hand crafted items - wood, ivory, lac, glass, brass, silver and gold and much more.

Festivals There are numerous festivals that are organized in Rajasthan every year. The best festivals of Rajasthan include Rajasthan International Folk Festival, Pushkar Fair, Teej Festival,

Gangaur Festival, Jaipur Literature Festival, Nagaur Fair, and Summer & Winter Festivals. The most popular festival of Rajasthan is Teej. The festival brings numerous celebrations in the form of traditional songs and dance, delicious food, and worshipping Goddess Teej.

Dress Traditionally men wear dhotis, kurta, angrakha and paggar or safa (kind of turban headgear). Traditional Churidar payjama (puckered trousers) frequently replaces dhoti in different regions. Women wear ghagra (long skirt) and kanchli (top). However, dress style changes with lengths and breaths of vast Rajasthan.

Dance and music

There are a total of 8 folk dances present in Rajasthan. These dances are famous in terms of cultural heritage. They are pleasing to look at as they narrate old stories is a different and unique way. Ghoomar is the most prevailing folk dance of Rajasthan. There are many traditional dance forms in Rajasthan. Kalbeliya, kachhi gori, Ghoomar, kathputli, bhawai, terah taali, chari and fire dance. All are unique and colorful. Kalbeliya dance is one of the traditional dance form in Rajasthan performed by the women of Kalbeliya community.

Folk music has a major contribution to the diversity of Rajasthan, out of which Maand is considered to be one of

the most sophisticated styles that describes the greatness of the kings and the warriors of the past.

Food Rajasthan, the land of Maharajas, is famous for its rich culture. But what makes the state distinctive and popular is its cuisine. Rajasthanis love their food and it is evident in their preparations. Dal Bati Churma and Laal Maas are the most famous dishes from the state.

Tourist places Rajasthan is famous for its many historical forts, temples and palaces (havelis), which predominantly drives tourism in the state. According to the locals, the best time to explore Rajasthan and its royal heritage is between the time of November to February as the summers are scorching in the state. Jaisalmer Fort in Jaisalmer, City Palace, Amber Fort and Palace, Jantar Mantar Observatory in Jaipur, Mehrangarh Fort, the Umaid Bhawan Palace in jodhpur, Karni Mata Temple at Bikaner, Lake Pichola, Kumbhalgarh Fort in Udaipur etc. are some of the tourist attraction in Rajasthan.

Current update

1. Mr. Ashok Gehlot is the Chief Minister of Rajasthan .

2. Mount Abu is Rajasthan's only Hill Station . 3. Rajasthan state is the second largest producer of oil seeds

and biggest wool-producing state of India .

Gujarat Gujarat, state of India, located on the country’s western coast, on the Arabian Sea. It encompasses the entire Kathiawar Peninsula (Saurashtra) as well as the surrounding area on the mainland. It is the fifth largest Indian state by area and the ninth largest state by population.

The capital of Gujarat is Gandhinagar.

Occupation The main occupation of Gujarat is agriculture . Gujarat is the main supplier of tobacco ,groundnut and cotton. It also includes gems, jewelry, pharmaceutical, textile and chemical industries .

Embroidery and the textile industry is one of the major booming industries of this state. The state is also known for its wide range of Brass items including brass and iron utensils, cutlery, knives and scissors.

Festivals Every year, Gujarat celebrates more than 200 festivals. The International Kite Festival is regarded as one of the biggest festivals celebrated.

Navratri — Most famous festival of Gujarat. Navratri festival is incomplete without Dandiya, Garba and Falguni Pathak. This is the most dynamic festivals in Gujarat and other parts of India. This 10-day celebration, Gujarati people do Durga Pooja, and enjoy with music and play dandiya and Garba.

Dress

The traditional Gujarati dresses for men include kediyu or kurta on the top and dhoti or chorno at the bottom. Women in Gujarat wear sarees or chaniya choli. Recently, they have started wearing salwar kameez as well.

Food Gujarati food is sweeter when compared to food from other states. Staple food of Gujarat include homemade khichdi (rice and lentils or rice and mung beans), and chaas (buttermilk) and pickles as side. It is common to add a little sugar or jaggery to some of the vegetable dishes and dal, which enhances the slightly bland taste of the vegetables. Kadhi is to be served, then a lentil preparation such as chutti dal, vaal, or mug ni dal will also be included. The sweet dish accompanying kadhi will likely be milk or yogurt–based, like doodhpak or Srikhand.

Dance and music Gujarat is famous as ‘land of festivals, Gujarat celebrates a huge array of festivals with great pomp and show. People perform traditional dances based on their rich culture and traditions. Garba is a form of dance which originated in the state of Gujarat in India. Some other most famous Dances of Gujarat are: Dandiya Raas, Ras Dance.

Gujarat is quite famous and well known for its dynamic traditions of classical and folk music. They are the heart and soul of Gujarat. This includes the forms of Doha, Sorathaa, Chhand, etc. The songs and music accompanying traditional dance forms such as Garba, Dandiya Raas, Padhar, Dangi and Tippani are unique in nature.

Current update 1. Vijay Rupani is the chief Minister of the Gujarat state .

2. Narmada river covers the largest distance in Gujarat state . 3. Vadnagar is a town in Gujarat which is the birthplace of Narendra Modi (Prime minister of India).

TEXTUAL EXERCISE [PG NO: 84&85]

Q1. What musical instruments are used with

Rajasthan folk Music?

ANS: Rajasthan folk music is accompanied by musical

instruments like Sarangi, Dholak or Sitar.

Q2. What are the main handicrafts of

Rajasthan?

ANS: Rajasthan is famous for textiles, semi-precious

stones, blue pottery and handicrafts. The Craftsmen of

Rajasthan make beautiful toys, bangles, jewellery and

decorative items. Bandhni is also famous handicraft of

Rajasthan.

Q3. Which part of Rajasthan is the biggest

wool producing area in India?

ANS: THAR DESERT

Q4. What are the main occupations of people

in Gujarat?

ANS: Gujarat is known for its beautiful handicrafts. Silk

saris of Patan, block prints of Ahmedabad, zari

embroidery of Surat using gold or silver thread is very

famous. Making jewellery and cutting precious stones

are also very famous traditional handicrafts in Gujarat.

Q5. Why is Rajasthan famous for its tourism?

ANS: Rajasthan is famous for its Fort and Palaces. The

Lake Palace in Udaipur, The City Palace in Jaipur,

Hawamahal, Amber Fort, the Chittorgarh Fort and the

Jaisalmer Fort are some important tourist destinations.

Q6. What is the type of food eaten by people

in Gujarat?

ANS: Kadhi made from curd, fried cakes made from

pulses are popular dishes of Gujarat. Srikhand is a rich

dessert made with curd and spiced with saffron,

cardamom, nuts and fruits is also a popular dish of

Gujarat.

Q7 What are main festivals of Gujarat?

ANS: Navratri, Diwali, Holi, Janmashtami are the main

festivals of Gujarat.

[B] NAME THE FOLLOWING:

a) Dal batti churma

b) Sari and Choli

c) Navratri and Diwali

d) Ghoomer, Kalbeliya

e) Amber Fort, Chittorgarh Fort

f) Gandhinagar

g) Palace on Wheels

[C] FIIL IN THE BLANKS:

1) Blue

2) Water

3) Fort, Palaces

4) Khaman

5) Ballads

6) Zari

EXTRA NOTES:-

1) Nomads do not have a permanent home.

2) Around one third of the earth’s surface is

covered in deserts.

3) Many of the ice free regions of the Arctic and

Antarctic are known as polar deserts.

4) Rajasthan means the land of Rajas or kings.

5) Rajasthani dresses are bright in colour and have

a lot of mirror work and embroidery.

6) Traditional dress of men of Rajasthan angrakha

– dhoti and pagri.

7) Gangaur is a main festival of Rajasthan.

8) Gujarat lies on India’s west coast.

9) Garba and Raas are the popular dance forms of

Gujarat.

10) Gujarati cuisine is mostly vegetarian.