Godhra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Godhra
|
|
|---|---|
|
City
|
|
Ramsagar Lake near Bus Stand, Godhra
|
|
| Nickname(s):
Land of Cows
|
|
 Godhra
Location in Gujarat
Godhra
Location in India
|
|
| Country |  India |
| State | Gujarat |
| District | Panchmahal |
| Named for | Cows |
| Area | |
| • Total | 20.16 km2 (7.78 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 73 m (240 ft) |
| Population
(2011)
|
|
| • Total | 143,644 |
| • Density | 7,125.2/km2 (18,454/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Spoken | Gujarati |
| • Official | Gujarati, Hindi, English and Urdu |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN |
389001
|
| Telephone code | 02672 |
| Vehicle registration | GJ-17 |
| Sex ratio | 935/1000 ♀/♂ |
| Literacy rate | 87.51 % |
Godhra (Gujarati: ગોધરા Godhrā) is a municipality in Panchmahal district in Indian state of Gujarat. It is the administrative headquarters of the Panchmahal district. Originally the name came from gou which means "cow" and dhara- which have two meanings depending on how you pronounce the word: 'dharaa' means a feminine thing or person that "holds" something and it usually means"land", and the other pronunciation is 'dhaaraa' in which means "flow". However, the second pronunciation is not popular nor is usually associated with this word. Hence, 'Godhra or Godharaa' means the Land of the Cow.
Godhra is widely known in India and internationally for being the starting point of the 2002 Gujarat riots. Statewide religious riots between Hindus and Muslims began after the Godhra train burning incident near the Godhra railway station on 27 February 2002, where about 59 train passengers were burnt alive. It was in Godhra that Vallabhbhai Patel first met Gandhi in 1917 and was subsequently drawn into the Indian freedom struggle.
Godhra is a road and rail junction and a commercial centre for timber and agricultural produce. Industries include oilseed pressing, flour milling, and glass manufacture.
Godhra has a science, commerce, arts, law, ITI, engineering and medical colleges.
Contents
Etymology
The name Godhrā is derived from earlier Godrahaka, referring to a pond or lake where cattle or buffalo came (perhaps to bathe).
As per local folklore, cows used to come here from Pavagadh for grazing.
Gujarati Historic Novel named Gujaratno Jay written by Zaverchand Meghani based on various Jain Prabandhas describes city as Godhpur(ગોધપુર).
History
A bronze of Lord Rishabhanath from AD 975 was found at Akota which mentions Gohadra kula, i.e., the school of Jain monks at Gohadra. The historical name of Godhra is "Godhrahk", which was established by Parmar king named Dhudhul Mandalik in A.D. 1415.
Five hundred years ago, in the 15th century, the respectable Saint Shrimad Vallabhacharya in his morning ritual speech gave the example of his dream city. He explained how the city which was seen in the dream by her daughter was handed over by a Muslim resident to a Hindu family.
Demographics
| Religions in Godhra | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Religion | Percent | |||
| Muslims | 51.23% | |||
| Hindus | 46.63% | |||
| Jains | 1.31% | |||
| Others† | 0.8% | |||
| Distribution of religions †Includes Sikhs (0.2%), Buddhists (<0.2%). |
||||
As of the 2011 India census, Godhra had a population of 143,644. Males constitute 51.67% of the population and females 48.32%. Godhra has an average literacy rate of 87.51%, higher than the national average of 74.04%. Male literacy is 92.25%, and female literacy is 82.44%
As of 2001[update] India census, 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 was 79.5%, and female literacy was 64.5%.
In 1901 the population was 20,915.
Government and politics
Godhra city is governed by a municipality. The city is divided into 12 wards for the purpose of administration, and each ward is represented by 3 councillors. The city is also represented by an MP elected from the Panchmahal Lok Sabha constituency (erstwhile Godhra Lok sabha constituency), Ratansinh Rathore from the BJP, and an MLA elected from the Godhra Assembly constituency, CK Raulji.
I. I. Chundrigar, former Prime Minister of Pakistan was born in Godhra in 1897.
Connectivity
Godhra is connected to all major towns of Gujarat by public transport service operated by GSRTC. And Godhra is a Railway Junction that connects Godhra with different parts of the state and nation.
India's biggest national highway Delhi-Mumbai expressway pass through godhra.
Culture
Religious importance
- Sat Kaival Temple at Bagaidol village of Godhra is a temple of sat kaival sampraday.
- Godhra is one of the religious places in India which has four bethaks (temples) for Vaishnav Sampraday. There are two main seats of Lord Gokulnathji and one each for Lord Gusaiji and Lord Mahaprabhuji. Godhra is the only city in India that has all three seats (or bhaitaks) of the Mahaprabhuji, Gusianji, and Gokulnathji
- Godhra has three Jain temples. The main idol (or Mul Nayak) in the Jain Temple is of Shantinath. It also has a temple called the 'Trimandir', a non-sectarian temple founded by Dada Bhagwan in the Bhamaiya area (Ahmedabad Road).
- Godhra has BAPS and SMVS swaminarayan temple.
- Godhra has Sheikh Majhawar graveyard, which is believed to be one of the biggest in Asia.
- Makar Sakranti, Maha Shivratri, Holi, diwali, Eid al-Fitr, Baisakhi, Rakshabandhan, Krishna Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Eid al-Adha, Muharram, Christmas, Dussehra, Easter are celebrated.
Landscape
Geographic and manmade features in the area include the Mesri River, Ramsagar Lake, Voharwad Masjid Tower, Polan Bazar, Methodist Church, Naheru Garden and, in the far east, Kanelav Lake.
