With a population of 5.2 million, the bustling culturally rich Ahmedabad is the largest city in the Gujarat state. Located on the River Sabarmati banks, the city is the Ahmedabad district’s administrative centre and was Gujarat’s capital from 1960 until 1970. Ahmedabad is an established textile city with its booming textile industry making it popularly known as The Manchester of the East. It is also a highly developed centre for education, science and information technology making it the commercial and cultural hub of western India.

A rich cultural tradition thrives in Ahmedabad, including the popular celebration Uttarayan which is the annual kite-flying day each January 14. Ahmedabad dancers in colorful costumes perform the Garba folk dance for the Nine nights of Navratri at various city venues. Deepavali is the festival of lights celebrated with each house in the city lighting their lamps by the windows and decorating the floors with the rangoli and little bursting mini-firecrackers.