Ahmedabad, Jan. 8 : Uttarayan or Makar Sankranti is one of the biggest Hindu festivals celebrated in Gujarat. A large number of people here mark it as a kite festival, in which people from all communities participate.

These kites are chiefly made by members of the Muslim community. Ahead of the festival, there is usually high demand for kites that are made available in the in attractive hues and sizes in the markets.

Many Gujaratis believe that Uttarayan festival is not just about an occasion when people fly kites but it is a time which also promotes and strengthens harmony among Hindus and Muslims in communally sensitive State.

Gujarat government has announced a new solar power policy for state to promote solar power generation as an alternative source of energy. The government would extend financial help to set up solar power units in the state and offer solar power generators (SPGs) at subsidized prices.

Narabet (Gujarat), Jan. 3 :Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has said that his state, which shares its border with Pakistan, needs a strategic airbase for security reasons.

After meeting Border Security personnel at the Narabet check post along the India-Pakistan border and reviewing security arrangements, Modi said he would urge the UPA Government at the Center to focus on developing more strategic airbases in the state.

Rajkot (Gujrat), Jan. 3 : Unexpected rains have affected Rajkot''s onion crop severely causing a sharp rise in the prices of the product.

Just a month ago, onions were priced at seven rupees per kg. Now it is soared to 22 rupees per kilogram.

Untimely rains have also affected the production of the crop in other parts of Gujrat and Nashik and Maharashtra.

Rajesh Parekh, an onion trader blamed on the excess shortage of onions in various cities for the recent price rise.

Earlier the onion crop demand in the state used to be 5000 kg a day, but it has dropped to 1500 kg.

Elecon Engineering Company Ltd, India's largest Material Handling Equipments, Industrial Gears and Transmission Products manufacturer has been awarded prestigious orders worth Rs 22 crore from Adani Power Ltd of Adani Group.

The scope of the order includes design, supply, erection, testing and commissioning of material handling systems at Mundra.

It may be noted that, In Decemeber 2008, Elecon Engineering bagged a similar order Rs 120 crore from Mundra port and Special Economic Zone of Adani Group.

Young CPM MP, A P Abdullakutty praised the Gujarat Chief Minister's industry friendliness, although the Marxists hate Narendra Modi.  

Abdullakutty, who represents the Marxist stronghold of Kannur in Kerala, spoke so while speaking at an interaction organized by the Indian Media Forum in Dubai.