RELIGION IN KUTCH

“For traditional Kutchis, folk saints have always been more important than the religions that they have been associated with. This has perhaps happened for two reasons.

The first being that since the region has been, across time, constantly infused by an infinite number of cultures and beliefs carried by either invaders, settlers, or remote control rulers, colliding, fusing and oft times metamorphosing, Kutchis would find it more comforting and strengthening to attach themselves to personalised spiritual heroes and heroines.Forces that have a greater immediacy score strongly over those that are wider and more empirical.

The second reason is that folk saints are closely connected to the land itself…places, happenings and local beliefs. They can safely be used to provide explanations and reasons for fortune or misfortune of any kind.”