Ahmedabad: It's 607... and a long way to go

Amdavadis showed love to their beloved heritage city and celebrated the 607th birthday of Ahmedabad. Mayor Gautam Shah performed pooja at the famous Maneknath temple and at Manek Burj where descendants of Maneknath Baba organizes pooja every year.

Also, a heritage rally was organised along with the message of cleanliness. Brand ambassador of Swachh Bharat Mission Vivek Oberio was in the city for the celebration. A family also cut a cake at Badshah no Hajiro in the shape of Teen Darwaja.

"It is the day when Ahmed Shah founded the city. We want to highlight the heritage of the city and so we have held this grand celebration," said Mayor Gautam Shah.

Later, Oberoi and Shah, along with other dignitaries of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), performed a Swachhta drive at Bhadra Plaza. Oberoi gave cleanliness awareness message to people who were present there. The mayor also paid honour to the sanitation workers at the plaza.

To promote mass transportation, the mayor and the actor took a ride of BRTS from Tilakbaugh to Law Garden. Around 1,500 school kids from walled part of city held a massive rally, also citizens in large number witnessed the rally.

Former leader of opposition Badruddin Shaikh appealed to mayor in this day to stick to the spelling of Ahmedabad which has been recognized by UNESCO. The BJP-ruled AMC is using Amdavad spelling. But interestingly, UNESCO has inscribed Ahmadabad and not Ahmedabad.

The city was once again decked up and many heritage monuments were illuminated for the day. For the first time, Sarkhej Roja was illuminated by the civic body which has been languishing till date. Educational institutes like CEPT, Ahmedabad University and Centre for Heritage Planning had organised an exhibition at the premises of Sidi Saiyyad in Jali on heritage. During the general board meeting of civic body on Monday, the mayor also thanked all for the participating in the city's birthday celebration.