International Kite Festival in Gujarat – Uttarayan

International Kite Festival in Gujarat – Uttarayan

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★What

International Kite Festival of Gujarat is held at Ahmedabad on January 14 every year, to accompany the festival of Uttarayan or Makar Sankranti. Makar Sankranti is a festival that heralds a change of season marking the movement of the sun into the northern hemisphere – a celebration to mark the end of winter. The skies are blue as well as clear; a cool breeze blows as well as a sensation of anticipation, happiness & joy holds all who celebrate the occasion.

★History

Kites or ‘Patangs’ in Hindi are believed to have first arrived in India either through Muslim traders coming eastward through Persia or Buddhist pilgrims coming from China in search of sacred texts. Either way, they have a long history of nearly 1000 years in this part of the world with numerous classic miniature paintings of typical scenes depicting people flying kites.

Since Gujarat is at the westernmost edge of India, it is one of the regions where Muslim and Hindu cultures have blended to a great degree in many aspects. Hence, kites which probably introduced by Muslims, end up as the symbol for celebrating Uttarayan, a Hindu festival. Still, no one knows exactly when this tradition began but this kite festival lives as the best example for national integrity and secularism of India.

★When

Uttarayan is celebrated every year on 14th January, known as Makar Sankranti in other parts of north India, and Pongal in Tamil Nadu, and continues on the 15th.

★Where

Uttarayan is celebrated across Gujarat, with major centers of kite-flying in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Nadiad, among others. The International Kite Festival is held in Ahmedabad. For information on how to get here for the festival, see the 'Tourism Hubs' pages for the place you want to fly your kites this year.

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★How

Flying kites, preparing typical desserts with jaggery and sesame seeds as well as taking holy dip in rivers create an essential part of it, as does conference with liked ones as well as trading introductions as well as sugary foods. Uttarayan, the six months duration in between Makar Sankranti and also Karka Sankranti (the day that notes the activity of the sunlight into Karka rashi) marks the northward activity of the planet in the holy ball.

People continue with their parties throughout Uttarayan as colourful kites decorate the skies. Nevertheless, just like all various other practices, there is a reason why people fly kites during Makar Sankranti and also in the days that follow the festival. This year Makar Sankrati is on January 14 as well as Karka Sankranti drops on July 16. According to Hindu practice, the six-month period of Uttarayan is thought about as a solitary day for the god.

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★Why

From the morning of Makar Sankranti, vibrant kites can be seen wafting overhead and this proceeds throughout Uttarayan. The festival that marks the arrival of the harvest season also notes completion of winter season. Generally, it was believed that winter season brought in a great deal of bacteria as well as caused disease as well as flu.

Hence, a massive variety of individuals would turn up during Makar Sankranti as well as in the adhering to months to bask in the early morning sun, hoping to remove germs and additionally fly kites in the process. The act of flying kites was claimed to have been launched to make this act more amazing.

Certainly, the importance of kites flying as much as the heavens during Makar Sankranti and also Uttarayan can be much deeper. Numerous take into consideration flying kites high up right into the sky as a form of thanksgiving to the gods.

It is additionally considered as a signal for their awakening as it is normally thought the gods have been taking remainder and also resting for the last 6 months, as well as currently it’s time to awaken. The clear, blue skies throughout Makar Sankranti and Uttarayan likewise offer a suitable situation to fly kites.