In Surat, Sardar Patel Statue is Garlanded Daily
Haribhai Kathiriya, a social activist and president of Lok Samarpan Blood Donation Centre said that the Patel Samaj went to garland the statue of Sardar Patel many years ago and came up with the idea to garland the statue of Sardar for 365 days.
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Surat : The Mini Bazaar area in Varachha is known world-over for its sparkling diamonds. However, not many are aware that the statue of iron man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, which is standing tall at the crossroads in Mini Bazaar, is probably the only statue in the world that is garlanded and cleaned for 365 days from the last 11 years.
On the occasion of the birth anniversary of India’s iron man Sardar Vallabhai Patel, there are celebrations galore in Gujarat and across the country. However, the celebration of Sardar’s Jayanti is a special moment for the people in Mini Bazaar.
Haribhai Kathiriya, a social activist and president of Lok Samarpan Blood Donation Centre said that the Patel Samaj went to garland the statue of Sardar Patel many years ago and came up with the idea to garland the statue of Sardar for 365 days. For this, the Patel Samaj hired a man named Pandey, who is serving at the Loksamarpan Raktadan Kendra, for cleaning and garlanding the statue of Sardar Patel everyday. For the last 11 years, Pandey has been garlanding the statue of Sardar Patel at Mini Bazaar.
“I arrive early in the morning at about 6 am in Varachha. First, I clean the statue of Sardar Patel with water and then garland it with flowers. Everyday, I change the flowers. I have been doing this non-stop for 365 days for the last 11 years” said Pandey.
Haribhai Kathiriya, president of Loksamarpan Raktadan Kendra said, “Nowhere else in India or Gujarat, the statue of Sardar Patel is cleaned and garlanded for 365 days. We are doing this for the last 11 years and it gives us immense joy and pleasure. You visit anytime at Mini Bazaar, and the statue of Sardar would be shining bright as it is newly installed”
Mini Bazaar in Varachha is also known as the diamond district of the world. It is here that the diamonds are manufactured in the small and big factories located in the vicinity and also traded on the narrow lanes. From here, the diamonds are sent to Mumbai for export to different parts of the world.
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