The diversity of India is reflected in its festivals and the celebration that takes place. Today is Makar Sankranti, which is largely a festival of flying kites in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

It brings back memories of my childhood days when everybody would gather on the terrace with the most colorful kites and veritable war takes place in the skies with each one trying to cut the other's kite and then they would break out in a huge cry - "Kaypo chhe" (Gujarati word which means we have cut your kite).

It use to be fun, as kite-flying was accompanied by music, food, and lot of screaming.

Although after a point of time I realised that during kite-flying, several birds get injured due to the razor sharp thread by which kites are flown while some die. Kite flying has been associated with Sankranti in a big way.

In fact it has become an international event, which is held in Gujarat every year. Kite fliers from different countries showcase their kite-flying skills, and in Gujarat kite business is worth Rs 100 crore.(1 Crore = 10 Million)

To add flavour to this festival, there is also special food prepared at home like lapsi (sweet porridge) and mixture of sugar and fried til and molasses.

Kite Flying on Sankranti:

The strings used to fly kites here are made of Manjha. It essential are cotton threads weaved together and cured with a special mix of glue, dye and ground glass. There is a range of Manja available, in terms of thickness of the thread.

Learn about the kites in India and Manjha.

Celebrations Around India:

Makar Sankranti is celebrated all around India - Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh - in different ways and it has different names in each region. According to Hindu astronomy, the sun moves from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn, which means the sun moves northwards (Uttarayana), marking days longer. It is a celebration of spring or beginning of harvest season. What is it like during this day around India?

West Bengal

Its an auspicious day, so in West Bengal thousands of pilgrims take the holy dip from midnight, thats the previous night, at the confluence of Gangasagar and offer puja at the Kapil Muni temple amidst chanting of mantra.

Tamil Nadu

Here this festival is called Pongal and the customs are different as well. Pongal signifies the boiling over of the rice in the cooking pot. It is very popular particularly amongst farmers. Rice and pulses cooked together in ghee and milk is offered to the family deity after the ritual worship. In essence in the South, Sankrant is a worship for the Sun God.



Uttar Pradesh


Known as 'Khichiri' (a cooked mixture of rice and lentils) in Uttar Pradesh, people take the ritual bath in Triveni Sangam in Allahabad or Haridwar. A big month-long Magha-Mela or fair is held at Prayag in Allahabad on this occasion.

Karnataka

In Karnataka, cows and bullocks are part of the celebration as well. They are decorated in a colorful manner and fed 'Pongal' and in the evening the cattle taken in procession to the beat of drums and music. People wish each other on this occassion, and a common custom here is the exchange of sugarcane pieces and Ellu (made with sesame seeds, coconuts & sugar blocks), relatives and friends. I've eaten Ellu and its quite tasty.

Punjab

The arrival of spring brings in lot of joy and happiness in Punjab, as December and January are the coldest months. So people in Punjab celebrate the eve of Sankrant, which is known as 'Lohri,' by making a symbolic bonfire and feasting on sweets made of jaggery, peanuts and sesame seeds. The actual day, which is called 'Maghi,' they do Bhangra all night long. It would be fun watching that, because no one can dance the way Punjabis do.

Honestly, I didn't know that celebrations of the same festival are so varied and interesting in different parts of India, until I wrote this piece. But at the end the message is the same, goodwill and friendship.

Resources:

Kite Photography of the Kumbh Mela

Makar Sankranti Festival

Festivals of India

Image Source:

Makar Sanskranti 2007

Makar Sankranti

Kites

Kites at the Taj Mahal

Millenium Kite Flying Festival

Makar Sankranti in South India

Celebrate Bandra 2007 Kite Flying Festival