Kite Festival
During the harvest festival season in India it celebrates the most popular festival called as kite festival that falls in the month of January on Makar Sankranti or Utran all over the country. The kite festival is celebrated on both Makar Sankranti and Basanth Panchami. Makar sankranti comes on a fixed date of January according to solar calendar whereas Basant Panchami is observed according to lunar calendar.
This festival of kite is also known as Utran since the Sun goes to uttarayan from this day according to Indian astrology. Kite flying festival is considered as one of the most popular sports and festival in India. This kite festival dates back to 14th century as per Greek literature, then the festival came to India and other Asian countries. India’s kite festival is very famous around the worldwide that is celebrated with great fun and passion. The real excitement of kite festival comes with cutting other’s kites.
The kite festival makes the sky colorful by flying various shapes and colorful kites up in the sky which is indeed a feast to the eyes. Flying kites high and high to reach the sky gives a feeling and satisfaction that one can fly and touch the sky as high as he wants. Kite flying festival is an inexpensive game and can be enjoyed alone or with number of people. The Kite is made of paper, silk or other thin materials framed by a thin bamboo stick in various shapes and sizes. Kites are attached to a thread rolled in a pinball and flown against the direction of the wind.
Different states in India celebrate kite festival with different names such as in Gujrat the kite festival is known as Utran, Jaipur in Rajasthan as Makar Sankranti which organizes international kite festival every year. Kolkata celebrates kite festival on Vishwakarma Puja but not on Makar Sankranti.
Every year International Kite Festival is celebrated in Ahmedabad that date backs in the year 1989. The kite festival symbolizes the onset of autumn. People without any discrimination of caste, region or religion creed, sex participate in the International Kite Festival. This International kite festival is held on the day of Makar Sakranti as it is believed that the sun moves into the northern hemisphere, thus emits harmful rays.
From the history, India has developed a rich tradition of kite flying festival with the interest of the Kings and Nawabs who found the sport both entertaining and a way of displaying their power.