Culture Surat

People of many races from various places have come to Surat from the ancient times, because of which, the city has witnessed a synthesis of many ethnicities and cultures.

PEOPLE
People of Surat are known for their friendly behavior and cordial attitude. People living in the urban pockets of Surat are mainly engaged in business ventures, whereas those staying in the remote corners of Surat earn their livelihood through agricultural activities. It can be said that People of Surat are quite popular for their business skill and humane demeanor. 
 
LANGUAGE
Languages in Surat presents a nice blend of various vernaculars that have evolved in the place over the years. Gujarati is the main language of Surat which is used by majority of population in the district.  Sindhi, Memoni, Hindi, Marathi, Oriya and Urdu are the other main languages spoken in Surat. 
 
CUISINE
Surat is known for its unique Surti cusine. There is a famous proverb “Surat nu jaman, ne Kashi nu maran” means fortunate is the man who can dine in Surat and die at Kashi. Surati people are also very famous for their taste buds. There is a common thinking that if you don’t know which occupation would be good to start in surat, start a food stall you will surely be benefited by the customers. Surati Cuisine/ Surti Cuisine is distinctly pure vegetarian and traditionally served elaborately on platters accompanied with rice and a mind boggling variety of wheat breads. Surat is bestowed with plenty of rainfall and therefore Surti cuisine is dominated by fruits and green vegetables. The focus is on making the food look appetizing with fresh green vegetables. The preparations are simple yet mouth watering. Often these vegetables are cooked in sesame oil to make a subtle but obvious difference in taste and flavor. Srikhand, a sweet dish made of yogurt, is an obvious name when one mentions of Surti cuisine. Farsans, theplas, kadhis and laddoos belonging to the Surti cuisine are renowned all over India. The wide repertoire of snacks, pickles and chutneys accompany the Surati dishes. 
 
FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
Apart from the national festivals which are celebrated throughout the nation, like Diwali, Dussehra, Holi, the local fairs and festivals of Surat are: Kite flying and Dang Dabar.

KITE FLYING  The kite-flying festival in Surat is celebrated on the eve of the Makar Shankranti in the month of January. The international meet for the same event is held in the city of Ahmadabad in the state of Gujarat. The 4 leg event commences in the city of Surat and Bhavnagar and culminates in the Uttarayan in the city of Ahmadabad. Although held in a smaller scale than in the city of Ahmadabad, the festival of kite flying in Surat attracts several participating connoisseurs from different parts of the district.

DANG DARBAR  The annual fair of Dang Darbar is held in the city of Surat in the early months of spring. The fair represents the age old tradition of the kings and the chieftains of the territory of Surat who would visit the region to meet in the popular Darbar. The present day gathering witnesses the assemblage of the tribal people from various parts of the district. The Dang Darbar of Surat is celebrated a few days before the festival of Holi.