KITE FLYING FESTIVALS

Aerial Duels of Fun-Filled Engagement

On the sacred occasion of Makar Sankranti, on the 14^th of January, Hindu devotees by the lakhs all over India take the ritual purification dip as the winter reluctantly hands over the reins to the blue skies, the smiling sun and the balmy breezes that herald the spring and the coming summer. Traditionally, this annual festival, known as Pongal in the south, Basant Panchmi in Punjab, Bhogali Bihu in Assam, Paush Sankranti in West Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, Sankranti in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, is held 21 days after the winter solstice which falls between 20 and 22 December; it marks the sun’s transmigration from Dhanu Rashi (Sagittarius) to Makar Rashi (Capricorn) on its celestial journey into the Northern Hemisphere.  For Hindus, the sun’s movement spiritually signifies the turning away from the delusions of the darkness to wisdom and the benediction of the light.

The ‘Sankranti’ or movement into the new season in the Indian -subcontinent is welcomed by an explosion of prayer and thanksgiving, almsgiving and feasting— along with the propitiation of Surya (the Sun God) and Varuna (God of Wind).  It is an important agricultural festival as well as it heralds the seeding season across many geographies.

In Gujarat, the festival is celebrated as Uttarayan… Uttar (north) rayan (moving). Kite flying has long been a tradition of these festivities as it celebrates this ‘movement’. Not only is it imbued with spiritual significance, of movement of life — of rejuvenation, it’s also important from the health point of view as it allows the body to enjoy the benediction of the sunlight and the warm breezes, after those long cold winter nights.

The state of Gujarat has uniquely embraced this pan-India festival. It has taken this joyful celebration with kites to a whole new level. This fun-filled hobby, which is celebrated from thousands of rooftops and maidans across India, has become a colossal state-sponsored international showcase.

It all goes back to 1989 when Ahmedabad first hosted the International Kite Festival at the Sabarmati Riverfront as part of the official celebrations of Uttarayan. The event was a huge hit as it attracted participants in competitive events from all over the world to demonstrate their kite flying skills and their unique kites, to the delight of thousands of people gathered at the venue.

Ever since, many visitors have got a first look at the wau-balang kites of Malaysia, llayang-llayang from Indonesia, rokkaku fighting kites from Japan, flying dragons kites from China and lots more. Gujarat’s kite flying festival continues to put the spotlight on the skills and innovation being poured into what began as a neighbourhood hobby! What a treat in the Indian skies for kite flying enthusiasts. It’s interesting to note that kite flying found its way to India from China and Persia. Strange as it may seem, there’s even a belief that the two Chinese scholar-travellers from the 6^th and 7^th centuries, whom most of us link to their study of Buddhism, are cited for having brought kite flying to India. From Persia, it is believed, that traders, back in the day, first introduced it to the courts of the Nawabs and maharajas. It might surprise you to learn that enthusiasts who took kite flying seriously in olden times include Jaipur’s 16th-century Maharaja Ram Singh and the Nawabs of Oudh.

An intrinsic part of Gujarati culture for over 300 years, it’s no surprise that the annual extravaganza continues to hold pride of place in its annual events calendar. Well, ahead of the event and the Makar Sankranti festivities the streets of popular venues such as Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Vadnagar, Somnath, and Dhordo are abustle with vendors and buyers in friendly combat over the range of offerings, in term of the quality of the kites, their design, the manja (the string) and the reels or spools (pareta) for a rewarding experience. In Ahmedabad, the major kite markets are Raikhad, Dilli Darwaja, Kalupur and Astodiya which source from traditional kite-making centres such as Maudha, Nadiad and Khambath in Gujarat, apart from what’s made in Ahmedabad itself.

The frenetic action reaches its heights on the 13^th night; the kicker is that there’s talk even of crores worth of business being conducted in a single night! As a newbie, you’ll be introduced to ‘cutting kites’, ‘showy kites’, modern acrobatic kites with two or four strings to allow good control of the kite’s angle to the wind, traction kites, simple kites for kids and even kites geared for old folk to be able to control. The large show kites are just that — very showy. A big name for these showpieces is the internationally renowned Peter Lynns Kites, manufacturer of the world’s largest kites. featuring everything from dolphins to Easter Island heads. Its first Guinness World Record acclaim was cited for the ‘Mega Ray’ and ‘Mega Bite’ which has 635 sq m of lifting area. These kites were made in 1997.

The kite festivities are a noisy, thrilling aerial adventure as families leap into the fray accompanied by loud music and cries of Kapyo Chhe, egging on the competitors. The skies are a riot of colours filled with all manner of fantastic versions of the humble kite. The womenfolk keep everyone fuelled with traditional fare from tables groaning with heaps of khichdo (khichdi) made with grains from the new harvest, undhiyu, savoury snacks such as lilva kachori, multiyes, til or sesame ladoos, Surti jamun jalebi and chikki.

While the International Kite Festival of Gujarat has garnered immense fame globally since its inception, the state of Rajasthan is a huge draw for the Jaipur Kite Festival to be held from 14th January – 16th January in the state capital. The carnival air of the festival is enhanced further with rich experiences of the unique culture and heritage of Rajasthan. Huge crowds gather for the purification dip at Galta Ji Temple with its seven sacred kunds, and then many go on to join the throngs at the Chaughan Stadium, better known as the Jaipur Polo Ground, for the kick-off of the festival. Scenes of hectic activity can be witnessed all over the city—in the bazaars, the market squares, residential areas and public parks. Handipura, Haldiyon Ka Rasta, and Kishanpole bazaar are the major kite selling hubs to hit for your purchases. Two unique aspects of the Jaipur Kite Festival are the Friendly Kite Flying Session and the Kite War Event. Visitors can sample an array of traditional snacks including samosas, kachoris, jalebis, mirchi-vadas and kadhai doodh at the pop-up stalls at the venue. The night sky looks magical as thousands of tukkals or illuminated box kites that serve as paper lanterns are released by people from all over the city.

The kite flying festivals offer a fabulous platform for showcasing India’s vibrant cultural heritage across different geographies. It’s also a wonderful time for bonding with family and friends, re-engaging with Nature and gearing up for a fun-filled spring season.