Godhra
Encyclopedia
Godhra is a town and originally the name came from "Gou
" which means "Cow" and "Dhara
" which has two meanings: one in Sanskrit
which means "Hold
or Land
" and the other in Hindi
which means Flow
. So, identically it means The Land of the Cow, a municipality
in Panchmahal district in India
n state
of Gujarat. It is the administrative headquarters of the Panchmahal district.
Godhra is also one of the religious places in the India which has four bethaks (temple
s) for Vaishnav Sampraday (Vaisnal Community). Two bethaks are of Lord Gokulnathji, and one each for Lord Gusaiji and Lord Mahaprabhuji. Godhra is the only city in India that has all three bhaitaks of the mahaprabhuji ,gusianji,and and gokulnathji. Godhra also has three beautiful Jain temples. The main idol ('Mul Nayak') in the main Jain Temple is that of Tirthankar Bhagawan Shantinath.
Godhra is widely known in India and internationally for being the eye of the storm, which began with Godhra train burning
on 27 February 2002, near the Godhra railway station, where local Muslims burned alive a train of Hindu pilgrims
, Godhra had a population
of 121,852. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Godhra has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 78%, and female literacy is 66%.
There is a technical school
and also various college
s in Godhra for Homeopathy
studies, Bachelor of Science
, Bachelor of Commerce
, Bachelor of Arts
, Diploma in Engineering
, ITI
, and a Law College.
Two new mini cinemas were opened more recently. One of them is located next to Moonlight Talkies, and the other is on the route towards Ahmedabad.
Gou
-People:*Terry Gou*Xiao Gou*Empress Gou*Empress Dowager Gou*O-Gō, Shogun Tokugawa Hidetata's wife-Other:*Gō *Gou pi gao*United Officers' Group, or GOU*Gō based on the life of O-Gō...
" which means "Cow" and "Dhara
Dhara
In Hinduism, Dharā is one of the Vasus, gods of the physical cosmos. He represents the earth and the element earth, though Earth is usually the goddess Prithvi rather than a god. Dhārā is a Sanskrit term used to refer to the flow of a stream or waterfall.-External links:* "". .net....
" which has two meanings: one in Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
which means "Hold
Hold
Hold may refer to:* Hold , interior cargo space* Hold , a place for an aircraft to loop around near its destination* Legal hold, a legal ruling or official declaration* Hold , a statistic that may be awarded to a relief pitcher...
or Land
Land
Land may refer to:*The part of the Earth that is not covered by water**Ecoregion*Landscape*Landform, physical feature comprises a geomorphological unit*Land , a factor of production comprising all naturally occurring resources*Land law...
" and the other in Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
which means Flow
Flow
-Relating to the movement of material:* Fluid dynamics, or fluid flow, the motion of a gas or liquid* Environmental flow, the amount of water necessary in a watercourse to maintain a healthy ecosystem* Flow chemistry, a chemical reaction run in a continuous stream...
. So, identically it means The Land of the Cow, a municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in Panchmahal district in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Gujarat. It is the administrative headquarters of the Panchmahal district.
Godhra is also one of the religious places in the India which has four bethaks (temple
Temple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
s) for Vaishnav Sampraday (Vaisnal Community). Two bethaks are of Lord Gokulnathji, and one each for Lord Gusaiji and Lord Mahaprabhuji. Godhra is the only city in India that has all three bhaitaks of the mahaprabhuji ,gusianji,and and gokulnathji. Godhra also has three beautiful Jain temples. The main idol ('Mul Nayak') in the main Jain Temple is that of Tirthankar Bhagawan Shantinath.
Godhra is widely known in India and internationally for being the eye of the storm, which began with Godhra train burning
Godhra Train Burning
The Godhra train burning was an incident in which a sleeper coach on a passenger train was set on fire in 2002 by Muslims in Godhra, Gujarat, India in a conspiracy...
on 27 February 2002, near the Godhra railway station, where local Muslims burned alive a train of Hindu pilgrims
Demographics
India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Godhra had a population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 121,852. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Godhra has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 78%, and female literacy is 66%.
Education
| Medium | Type | School School A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools... /College College A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations... Name |
|---|---|---|
| Gujarati Gujarati language Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages... |
KG, Primary, Secondary, Higher Secondary | Anaj Mahajan Sarvajanik Shikshan Mandal |
| Gujarati | KG, Primary, Secondary | Sharda Mandir |
| English |
|
|
| Gujarati/English | Nursery, Kindergarten, Primary | Kangaroo Pa Pa Pagli School (CBSE BASED) |
| Gujarati | Primary, Secondary, Higher Secondary | M & M Mehta High School |
| Gujarati | Primary, Secondary, Higher Secondary | The Iqbal Union High School |
| English | Primary, Secondary, Higher Secondary | The Saifee Jamali English High School |
There is a technical school
Technical school
Technical school is a general term used for two-year college which provide mostly employment-preparation skills for trained labor, such as welding, culinary arts and office management.-Associations supporting technical schools:...
and also various college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
s in Godhra for Homeopathy
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine in which practitioners claim to treat patients using highly diluted preparations that are believed to cause healthy people to exhibit symptoms that are similar to those exhibited by the patient...
studies, Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
, Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Commerce
A Bachelor of Commerce is an undergraduate degree in commerce and related subjects. The degree is also known as the Bachelor of Commerce and Administration, or BCA...
, Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, Diploma in Engineering
Diploma in Engineering
The Diploma of Engineering Studies aims to provide students with the ability to communicate effectively in English; a sound knowledge of basic engineering, scientific, computing and mathematical techniques; a knowledge of, and ability to apply, basic problem solving techniques; and basic knowledge...
, ITI
ITI
Different meanings of ITI include:* Indian Telephone Industries Limited* The Institute of Translation & Interpreting, which is a professional association representing translators and interpreters in the United Kingdom....
, and a Law College.
Entertainment
Godhra had only one major cinema halls Moonlight Talkies, Moonlight Talkies, being on the Dahod road, has larger audiences coverage and is still in business.Two new mini cinemas were opened more recently. One of them is located next to Moonlight Talkies, and the other is on the route towards Ahmedabad.
Geography
Kanelav Talav, a nice pond set in a scenic setting, has offered refuge to generations of Godhra residents. It has beautiful scenery and a check-dam. Rotary Club Godhra have developed, with the help of local institutes and organizations, beautiful infrastructure at Kanelav, popularly known as Kanelav Picnic Point.- A modern sports complex near Kanelav lake was inaugurated by Shri Narendra ModiNarendra ModiNarendra Damodardas Modi is the current Chief Minister of the Indian state of Gujarat.He was born in a middle class family in Vadnagar; and is a member of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh since childhood, as also an active politician since early in life. He holds a masters degree in political...
, on 26 January, 2009 and the days around this date are memorable for the Godhra civilians due to a return visit of Shri Narendra Modi and a reincarnationReincarnationReincarnation best describes the concept where the soul or spirit, after the death of the body, is believed to return to live in a new human body, or, in some traditions, either as a human being, animal or plant...
of Godhra city. - Ram Sagar Talav, another pondPondA pond is a body of standing water, either natural or man-made, that is usually smaller than a lake. A wide variety of man-made bodies of water are classified as ponds, including water gardens, water features and koi ponds; all designed for aesthetic ornamentation as landscape or architectural...
in the center of the town offers an additional focal point that serves as a place to relax and socialize. Ram Sagar Talav has been divided into two parts, and only a small drainageDrainageDrainage is the natural or artificial removal of surface and sub-surface water from an area. Many agricultural soils need drainage to improve production or to manage water supplies.-Early history:...
links them. At its center is landscaping where a statue of Sri Swami VivekanandaSwami VivekanandaSwami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
has been erected. - A few miles from Godhra lie the PavagadhPavagadhPavagadh is a Hill Station, and a Municipality in Panchmahal district about away from Vadodara in Gujarat state in western India. It is known for a famous Mahakali temple which draws thousands of pilgrims everyday....
hills. On the peak of the hills is famous temple of the Goddess KaliKali' , also known as ' , is the Hindu goddess associated with power, shakti. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means "the black one". Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death" . Hence, Kāli is...
. It is one of the oldest places of Kali worship. In the foothills of Pavagadh is the ancient fort of ChampanerChampanerChampaner चंमपानेर شمبنر is a historical city in the state of Gujarat, in western India. It is located in Panchmahal district, 47 kilometres from the city of Vadodara. The city was briefly the capital of Gujarat....
which was the medieval capital of Gujarat and seat of the Chavda KingdomChavda KingdomThe Chavda Kingdom or Chapa dynasty also known as Gujar Chapas was an ancient Hindu Kshatriya dynasty which ruled northern Gujarat from 746 AD to 942 AD....
. - Famous food of the people of Godhra is Maize Bread, 'Makai No Rotlo'
- Most people in Godhra speak the Gujarati languageGujarati languageGujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
. - Godhra is an important junctionJunction (rail)A junction, in the context of rail transport, is a place at which two or more rail routes converge or diverge.This implies a physical connection between the tracks of the two routes , 'points' and signalling.one or two tracks each meet at a junction, a fairly simple layout of tracks suffices to...
on the Indian Railways line from MumbaiMumbaiMumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
(Bombay) to New DelhiNew DelhiNew Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
. Another important railway line passing through Godhra is the AhmedabadAhmedabadAhmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
to Bhopal line. - The major nearby railway stations are: DahodDahodDahod,on the banks of river Dudhimati, is a towncity with a municipality in Dahod District within the State of Gujarat, India. The city serves as District Headquarters for Dahod District. It is approx. 200 km away from Ahmedabad and 150 km away from Vadodara...
to the east, VadodaraVadodaraVadodara formerly known as Baroda is the third most populated city in the Indian State of Gujarat . It is one of the four cities with the population of over 1 million...
(Baroda) to the southwest, and AnandAnand, Gujarat]]Anand is the administrative centre of Anand District in the state of Gujarat, India. It is administered by Anand Municipality. It is part of the region known as Charotar, consisting of Anand and Kheda Districts....
and AhmedabadAhmedabadAhmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
to the west. - Godhra is surrounded by these towns and villages of Panchmahal District (in alphabetical order): DahodDahodDahod,on the banks of river Dudhimati, is a towncity with a municipality in Dahod District within the State of Gujarat, India. The city serves as District Headquarters for Dahod District. It is approx. 200 km away from Ahmedabad and 150 km away from Vadodara...
, HalolHalolHalol is a city and a municipality in Panchmahal district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Located in Western india, it has an average elevation of 499 metres .- Industry :...
, KalolKalolKalol is a city and a municipality in Panchmahal district in the Indian state of Gujarat.- Geography :Kalol is located at . It has an average elevation of 100 metres .It is famous for its oil field.- Industry :...
, LimkhedaLimkheda-Geography:It is located at at an elevation of -Location:Limkheda is west of Dahod. Nearest airport is Harni Airport at Vadodara.National Highway 59 passes through Limkheda.-External links:* * *...
, LunavadaLunavadaLunavada is a taluka and a small town in the Panchmahal District in the Northern part of Gujarat state of India.During British Raj, Lunavada was one of the princely states under the Gujarat division of Bombay Presidency, whose chieftain was Wakhat Singhhji a Solanki Rajput "maharana" of high...
, Shahera, VejalpurVejalpurVejalpur is a city and a municipality in Ahmedabad district in the Indian state of Gujarat.-Geography:Vejalpur is located at . It has an average elevation of 133 metres .-Demographics:...