Maru Amdavad: A Walk Back Home

Heritage, Varso, Dharohar, whatever you choose to call it, the truth remains the same. It is our identity, our history, our culture, and our roots. It shapes who we are as individuals and as a community. And yet, in the rush of modern life, we often forget its value.

Those chaotic narrow lanes we call congested are often more peaceful than the six lane highways we proudly build. Those small homes pressed together with only one wall in between feel warmer than any large penthouse with silent corridors and distant neighbours. Heritage is not just where we come from. It is what has shaped us from within.

This Heritage Week, I wanted to bring something deeply personal, something that connects to my heart and my history. A place I can proudly call Maru Ghar, Maru Amdavad.

Some moments do not feel like events. They feel like home. Heritage Week in Ahmedabad is one of those moments, a soft reminder that no matter how fast life moves, our roots walk beside us quietly and patiently.

Heritage is not a display of the past. It is a living memory of people, emotions, and identities.
 Virasat etle imarato nathi… eh toh manas ni yaadon ni vaat chhe.
 When we preserve heritage, we protect not just structures but the stories that formed us.

This year, a soulful Folk Heritage Walk organised by Aapni Dharohar with The Art Window Foundation turned this idea into an experience. From the first step, the walk felt like a shared heartbeat and a gentle homecoming.

As we moved through the lanes of Old Ahmedabad, Gujarati folk songs filled the air like blessings. These songs were once sung by people who built this city with their hands and dreams. The wisdom of Akha Bhagat blended beautifully with the lyrical grace of Kavi Dalpatram, creating a melody of memory and meaning.

At Kala Ramji Mandir, a sense of calm wrapped around everyone. At Amritvarshini Vav, the cool stone steps whispered stories of ancestors who lived simply and believed deeply. It felt as if their voices were rising again through the silence.

The chabutras reminded us of a time when kindness was a way of life. Architecture held space for birds, animals, and nature. Around us, carved facades, jharokhas, and pols stood like wise elders watching generations change yet holding their essence intact.

During the walk, two voices added depth to the experience.

Aniruddh Thakor, Founder of Aapni Dharohar, said:
"Heritage is something that our ancestors passed down to us, it cannot be valued enough. That is Dharohar, that is heritage. And during this Heritage Week we are organising many events because with growing times and fast paced development, people are forgetting their roots. We want people to remember their beginnings and belongings, where they come from and what they have inherited. We should be grateful for the rich culture and the rich heritage we have been given access to, and we must keep it preserved not just during Heritage Week but throughout the year and for as long as we can."

His words felt like a reminder of responsibility. Everything we cherish today exists because someone before us chose to preserve it.

Krupesh Barot, President of The Art Window Foundation, shared: "Aa Mandir thi Masjid sudhi ni safar eej apdu heritage che, eej apdo varso che." This journey from the temple to the mosque is our heritage and our inheritance.

In that moment, everyone felt the emotional richness of Ahmedabad, a city that belongs to all, remembers all, and embraces all.

By the end of the walk, people did not return only with photographs. They returned with gratitude. Gratitude for the stories that shaped them, the music that survived, the structures that stood tall, and the communities that lived with love and warmth.

Because preserving heritage is not about saving old things.

It’s about saving the feeling of home.

It’s about remembering who we are.

Virasat sambhalvi etle aapni odakh sambhalvi.