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Fixed a typo found with Wikipedia:Typo_Team/moss.

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Vandhay
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Gujarat
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Gujarat, India
| coordinates = {{coord|23.188|N|69.450|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Gujarat]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kachchh District|Kachchh]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total =
| population_as_of =
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Hindi language|Hindi]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code =
| registration_plate =
| blank1_name_sec1 = Nearest Village
| blank1_info_sec1 = Deshalpar
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Vandhay''' or '''Vandhai''' is a village in [[Bhuj]] [[Taluka]] of [[Kutch]] District of [[Gujarat]]. It is .25 km from [[Bhuj]], district and taluka headquarters.<ref>[http://www.onefivenine.com/india/villages/Kachchh/Bhuj/Vandhay]</ref>

It is a very small village with a population of around 350 people and about 70 houses.<ref>[http://www.geolysis.com/place-info.php?p=533000466&k=626804310 Vandhay is a small village in the district of Kutch in the state of Gujarat in India. It has a population of about 334 persons living in around 71 households.]</ref> The nearest big villages are Deshalpar and Anandsar, Madhapar and Jiyapar.

Nearby towns are [[Anjar, India|Anjar]] (69.4 km), [[Nakhatrana]] (30.4 km), [[Mundra]] (61.2 km), [[Gandhidham]] (88.9 km) and Bhuj (27.3 km).

However, this village has religious significance for many [[Hindu]] communities of Kutch as the [[Ashram]]s of one of the famous [[saint]] of Kutch [[Odhavram|Sant Shri Odhavramji]] is located here. Odhavramji started the first [[Gurukul]] of Kutch, named ''Ishwarramji Gurukul'', in year 1937 and Blind School in 1938 both of which are in the village.<ref name=a>{{Cite web |url=http://santodhavram.org/about.html |title=Odhavramji came to Vandhai in Kutchh.... The Vandhai Ashram follows the Harihar parampara..... The first gurukul of Kutch was named Ishwarramji Gurukul & inaugurated on Vasant Panchmi 1937. Odhavramji welcomed his first batch of 330 students.... He wanted to gift the blind self reliance and respect in society. The school for the blind began in 1938. He called for the brail script from Bombay and his first batch had 7-8 students. |access-date=2011-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904094716/http://santodhavram.org/about.html |archive-date=2011-09-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Also the [[Gadi (seat)|Gadi]] of [[Ramanandi sect|Ramanandi]] sect headed by Sadhu Val Dasji, a contemporary of Sant Garib Dasji of [[Kukma]] of same sect is here.<ref name="b">Shree Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya Samaj : A Brief History & Glory of our Fore-Fathers. Calcutta. Author :Raja Pawan Jethwa (2007)</ref> The asharam is also known as ''Valaram Jhupdi''. ''Jhupdi'' means a hut, as the Sadhu Val Dasji also known as Valaram used to stay in a hut. This place is in the outskirts of the village near the pond and there is a [[Rama]] temple near his hut.

Many people of Kutch belonging to communities like [[Bhanushali]], [[Patidar]], [[Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya]] and others like [[Ahir]]s, [[Sorathia]]s and [[Rabari]] worship as their [[Guru]]s, the Sant Odhavramji (who followed [[Harihara|Harihar Parampara]]<ref name=a/> of [[Haridwar]] ) and Sadhu Val Dasji (who followed [[Ramanandi sect|Ramanandi]] sect).<ref name=b/> As such, people visit this small obscure village in large numbers on occasions like [[Ramnavami]], [[Gurupoornima]], [[Diwali]] and other festivities.

The beautiful architect depicting idols of Gods, warriors and others characters on [[chhatri]] and temple housing [[samadhi]]s of Odhavramji and other saints were done by artisans of [[Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya]], the artisan community of Kutch also known as [[Mistris]].<ref name=b/> From this community, Mistri Manji Jeram Rathod of [[Madhapar]] was one of the contemporaries of Odhavramji, who was his ardent follower and major donor in building of ashram in 1936-38. Manji Jeram was also the major donor of ''Kutchi Lalrameshwar Ashram'' founded in [[Haridwar]] by Saint Odhavramji in 1954.<ref name=b/> Further, Mistri Ghela Pachhan Parmar of [[Kukma]] was another one of major donor of this community, who donated large money in building of other ashram headed by Sant Val Dasji in those decades.<ref name=b/>

There is also a temple of Umiya Mataji ( a form of [[Shakti]] ) in village.

Vandhay has Ram Mandir(Temple) and beautiful Pond edge, spending evening is Spiritual feeling here, Umiya Mataji Mandir ( Kul Devi of Kadva Patidar) has Dwara ( Free lunch, Dinner) provided as seva here. Also there are accommodation rooms for family is available as no profit no loss rates.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/hitesh365/3291758929/in/photostream/ Photos of Vandhay, Odhavramji Asharam of Flicker]

[[Category:Villages in Kutch district]]

Vandhay - Revision history

->Ira Leviton: Fixed a typo found with Wikipedia:Typo_Team/moss.