Demographics and culture of Ahmedabad

According to the 2011 national census, the population of Ahmedabad was declared to be 7,214,225. This figure was only limited to the municipality region. The total population of the Ahmedabad Urban Agglomeration (which also includes the region governed by AUDA) came to 7.2 million people.^[1] There were 886 females to every 1000 males in 2001. Now there are 904 women to 1000 men in 2011. Ahmedabad had a literacy rate of 79.89% in 2001 which rose to 89.62 percent in 2011. Out of this, male and female literacy are 93.96 and 84.81 percent as of 2011 census.^[2] According to the census for the

Marwaris

who bring in their native language and culture to the city. The government institutions and military base near the city also bring peoples from across India. The city's population has increased in a major way following increasing economic expansion and modernization.

Ahmedabad also enjoys great religious diversity. According to the 2011 census, 83% of the population in Ahmedabad is

Parsis in India. There is also a small population of 300 Bene Israel Jews living in Ahmedabad.^[6] Owing to the religious and cultural influence of Jains and many Hindus, there is widespread vegetarianism

across the city's hotels and restaurants.

Culture

Lord Swaminarayan.

Ahmedabad is known for its diversified culture and the celebration of various festivals with great zeal which transcends demographic and religious lines.

Hindu calendar and the procession of Tajia during Muharram

are an integral part of the culture of the city.

Also the Hathee Singh Jain Temple built by Merchant Hathee Singh in 1850 AD serves as an example of the culture of the city of Ahmedabad. The temple is known for its architectural styling and designing that consists of intricate carvings.

People of the city are known for their love for food. A typical Gujarati thali (meal) consists of

vegetarian food as majority of the populace is vegetarian. Ahmedabad boasts of the first all-vegetarian Pizza Hut in the world^[7]

Ahmedabad has a quite a few restaurants serving typical Mughlai non-vegetarian food in older areas like Bhatiyar Gali, Kalupur and Jamalpur. The old city is also known for good bakeries making Naan (Indian bread) and Nankhatai (Indian cookies). The architectural landscape of Ahmedabad stretches across the millennium. The architecture of the Sultanate period fused Hindu craftsmanship and forms with traditional Islamic layouts. These developments later gave rise to a fusion which is known as the

St. Xavier's High School Loyola Hall

, Gujarat High Court and the Ahmedabad Management Association.

Various parts of Ahmedabad are known for their speciality of folk art. The Paldi area is famous for embroidery from

Kutch and Saurashtra region. Rangeela pol is famous for bandhinis (tie and dye work) while Madhupura is famous for its traditional mojri footwear. Ganesha idols are made in huge numbers in the Gulbai Tekra area. Law Garden

is famous for its mirror work handicraft.

Many Gujarati littérateurs migrated to Ahmedabad due to its prosperity. Three literary institutions were started in Ahmedabad for the promotion of Gujarati literature -

Sardar Patel respectively. The Calico Textile Museum has a large collection of Indian and international fabrics, garments and textiles. The Hazrat Pir Mohammad Shah Library

has a collection of rare original manuscripts in Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Sindhi and Turkish languages.

References

^ ""Ahmedabad yet to become a mega city", The Hindu, April 7, 2001". Retrieved 3 April 2014.
^ "Literacy in Gujarat". Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^ "Ahmedabad District Collectorate - BPL Census for ninth plan". Archived from the original on 24 May 2007. Retrieved 10 May 2006.
^ "Slum Population in Million Plus Cities". Retrieved 11 May 2006.
^ "Census GIS Household". Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Archived from the original on 6 July 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2006.
^ "Jews in Ahmedabad". Retrieved 27 April 2006.
^ ""Bon 'veggie' appetit", The Hindu". Retrieved 8 May 2006.

[1] ""Ahmedabad yet to become a mega city", The Hindu, April 7, 2001". Retrieved 3 April 2014.

[2] "Literacy in Gujarat". Retrieved 1 January 2014.

[3] "Ahmedabad District Collectorate - BPL Census for ninth plan". Archived from the original on 24 May 2007. Retrieved 10 May 2006.

[4] "Slum Population in Million Plus Cities". Retrieved 11 May 2006.

[5] "Census GIS Household". Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Archived from the original on 6 July 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2006.

[6] "Jews in Ahmedabad". Retrieved 27 April 2006.

[pizza-7] ""Bon 'veggie' appetit", The Hindu". Retrieved 8 May 2006.

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