Ahmedabad is the best city to celebrate the kite flying festival in Gujarat. Enthusiastic youngsters make their mark in the early morning sky with their first kite. Eventually, the whole family joins and tries to motivate the kite bearer. As the kite proves its dominance in the Ahmedabad sky, joyous cheers fill the atmosphere.
The Kite Flying festival is known as Uttarayan or Makarsankranti. This festival, celebrated on every 14th Jan, symbolizes the winter getting milder as the Sun starts traveling towards North.
Ahmedabad is know to be the Kite Capital. The evenings before Uttarayan are defined by crowded markets filled with colorful kites. The Kite sizes and varieties spawn across numerous categories. The excited kids and youngsters keep exploring these kites and fill up their inventory for the big day, 14th Jan.
At some places, the Uttarayan morning is welcomed by loud fire crackers. This is to wake up people snuggled down in thick blanket, evading the cold night. As the first sun-rise penetrates through darkness, cheers start echoing the sky. Kites are already up in an attempt to prove their dominance in the sky. When two kites engage in a kite-fight, the winner announces his triumph by shouting out phrases like ‘Kaipo Che!!!’.
the festival is celebrated all day along with lip-smacking delicacies like Undhiyu, Til Ladoo, Jalebi and many more. At night, the Tukkals take over the sky. I like to call them ‘Floating Night Lamps’. As they ascend the altitude, the sky converts into a vibrant canvas, painted by bright colors. In some parts of Gujarat, once the sun has set, people indulge in ‘Garba’, the traditional Gujarati dance. They just don’t want the festival to end.
Famished at the end of a tiring day, the enthusiastic folks of Ahmedabad head out to savor some delicious food items. In case you want to witness this festival, there is no better city than Ahmedabad.
I have compiled an image gallery of Uttarayan in Ahmedabad. Hope you like it.
Have you ever been to Ahmedabad for Utarayan? Do let us know in the comments!
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