Ratnal
Ratnal is a village near the town of Anjar in the Anjar taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is located around 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Anjar and 25 kilometres (16 mi) from Bhuj capital of Kutch.
Ratnal has a railway station on Bhuj – Gandhidham railway line
Earthquake of 26 January 2001
The 2001 Gujarat earthquake of 26 January 2001 almost completely destroyed the village. It is estimated that 175 people died in the village on that day. US president Bill Clinton subsequently visited the village.
Child marriages
Mass child marriages take place among an influential section among the Ahir community, known as Ahir Paratharia. In 2009 around 235 child couples tied the nuptial knot. These marriages take place traditionally once a year on the thirteenth day of the month of Vaishakh of the indigenous calendar.
References
- ^ "Radix - Media coverage - management aspects". www.radixonline.org. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009.
- ^ Bhatt, Sheela (29 March 2001). "Clinton to visit Bhuj, Ratnal, Anjaar and Bhachau". Rediff. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
- ^ "Minister's village set for mass child marriages". 21 May 2009.