Ratnal
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Ratnal
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Panchyat village
| image_skyline = Ratnal_Bus_Station.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Ratnal Bus Station
| pushpin_map = India Gujarat#India
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Gujarat, India
| coordinates = {{coord|23.188673|N|69.903409|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Gujarat
| established_title =
| established_date =
| founder =Ratan Bhai Rabari
| named_for = Ratan Bhai Rabari
| government_type = Gram Panchayat
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank = 1st in Anjar Taluka
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 120
| population_total = 10,000
| leader_title = Minister Of Gujarat
| leader_name = Vasanbhai Ahir
| population_as_of =
| population_rank = 1st in Kutch
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = Gujarati, Hindi
| timezone1 = IST
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = PIN
| postal_code = 370105
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = 2836-276
| registration_plate = GJ 12
| blank1_name_sec1 = Nearest city
| blank1_info_sec1 = Anjar
| blank2_name_sec1 =
| blank2_info_sec1 =
| blank3_name_sec1 = Railway Station
| blank3_info_sec1 = RUT
| website = {{URL|gujaratindia.com}}
| footnotes =
}}
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 {{convert|15|km}} from Anjar and {{convert|25|km}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.radixonline.org/media7.htm |title=Radix - Media coverage - management aspects |website=www.radixonline.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106153253/http://www.radixonline.org/media7.htm |archive-date=2009-01-06}} US president Bill Clinton subsequently visited the village.{{cite news | url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/mar/29bill.htm | title=Clinton to visit Bhuj, Ratnal, Anjaar and Bhachau | publisher=Rediff | date=29 March 2001 | first=Sheela | last=Bhatt | accessdate=17 June 2018 }}
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/1257776/report-ministers-village-set-for-mass-child-marriages|title = Minister's village set for mass child marriages|date = 21 May 2009}} These marriages take place traditionally once a year on the thirteenth day of the month of Vaishakh of the indigenous calendar.
References
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