The Old fortified City, which probably dates from circa 18th c, when the Marathas overthrew the Mughals and gained power over the territory, is a rabbit warren of crowded streets and pols (a cluster of houses around a central courtyard) with tightly packed shanty buildings, a few stories high with overhanging balconies supported very often by beautifully carved corbels, depicting animals, flowers and the ever popular Lord Ganesha.
In this dizzying maze of streets throbbing with life, hooting tuk tuks, the babble of shoppers bargaining, buying and selling, street dogs barking and cows wandering with single minded purpose, it's rare to find a breathing space. But in the midst of this chaos, as a complete surprise....was the....'dovecote'. "It was constructed by the 'Jain' community" said the guide, "as a reminder that all living things have spiritual equality". Interestingly, in Medieval Europe, dovecotes were a symbol of wealth and power and their construction and ownership was a privilege for the nobility and regulated by law. They provided a source of food....birds' eggs, being a delicacy !
Janism is an ancient religion originating at the time of the Indus Valley Civilisation. It fell into decline with the rise of Hinduism and Islam and is now a minority religion in India with far fewer than 5 million devotees. Gujarat is one of the States in India which supports the most thriving population of Jains in India. They believe in non violence to all living creatures and are vegetarian, even avoiding root vegetables because of the possible harm which might be caused to insects in disturbing the earth !
In this dizzying maze of streets throbbing with life, hooting tuk tuks, the babble of shoppers bargaining, buying and selling, street dogs barking and cows wandering with single minded purpose, it's rare to find a breathing space. But in the midst of this chaos, as a complete surprise....was the....'dovecote'. "It was constructed by the 'Jain' community" said the guide, "as a reminder that all living things have spiritual equality". Interestingly, in Medieval Europe, dovecotes were a symbol of wealth and power and their construction and ownership was a privilege for the nobility and regulated by law. They provided a source of food....birds' eggs, being a delicacy !
Janism is an ancient religion originating at the time of the Indus Valley Civilisation. It fell into decline with the rise of Hinduism and Islam and is now a minority religion in India with far fewer than 5 million devotees. Gujarat is one of the States in India which supports the most thriving population of Jains in India. They believe in non violence to all living creatures and are vegetarian, even avoiding root vegetables because of the possible harm which might be caused to insects in disturbing the earth !
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