By Jharna Shahani
Cheers to
new beginnings! The start of every New Year is associated with new beginnings; “Makar Sankranti” is a festival that
holds special meaning with kites soaring high in a symbolic manifestation of
hope, goodwill and cheer…..
In India, every
festival brings with it oodles of colour, fun, food
and a world of hidden messages that are spiritual as well as philosophical. With
such meaningful celebrations woven into the traditional and cultural garb that
is India, ‘Makar Sankranti’ or as it
is more popularly called the ‘kite flying festival’ nourishes socio-cultural
sentiments and boosts an unusual design boom engineered in the simple act of
kite flying.
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| Card Kite |
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| Glider Kite |
To Hindus,
the Sun stands for knowledge, spiritual light and wisdom, and the transition of
the Sun into the celestial path of Makar Rashi (Zodiac Capricorn)
marks the beginning of Sankranti (in Sanskrit meaning transmigration). Called Pongal in Tamilnadu, Magh Bihu in the Assam Valley, Shishur Saenkraat in the Kashmir Valley,
Makara Vilaakku Festival in the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala, Maghi in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and
Punjab and Uttarayan in Gujarat and
Rajasthan, Makar Sankranti or
Sankranti to the rest of India is celebrated on a fixed date -January 14 – every
year, since it depends on the position of the sun and not the moon.
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| Bird Kite |
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| Barbie Kite |
Various theories abound: The festival pays
obeisance to Saraswati (Goddess of
Knowledge); is an opportunity to strengthen father-son ties; occasion for
thanksgiving; make auspicious beginnings as it also marks the onset of the
harvesting season; and pay homage to departed ancestors among its various
interpretations. Predominantly, like any other festival, Makar Sankranti also marks the victory of good over evil.
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| Colourful Twines |
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| Don 2 Kite |
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| Kangana Ranaut Kite |
With an Indian festival being incomplete without
food and colour, among other
regional gourmet specialties, Makar
Sankranti is marked by feeding Til
Gud ladoos (round sweetmeats made
from sesame seeds and jaggery) and chanting
set phrases in different languages that all mean – “Eat sweets and speak
sweetly”. Since the festival falls in mid winter, food prepared for this
festival is such that it keeps the body warm and gives high energy. Keeping the
cold weather in mind, in many states the women wear black clothes so that the
heat is absorbed and retained to help them keep warm.
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Til Gud ladoos (round sweetmeats made from sesame seeds and jaggery)
Image Source: Iloveindia.com |
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Khichri(Sticky Rice Preperation)
Image Source: Growingappetite.com |
The synonymous
event of Kite Flying, which began centuries ago as a symbolic gesture of
reaching towards the Sun God, ‘Surya’ has over the years become a rage with
young and old alike during Makar
Sankranti. Colourful kites that have
become an inevitable part of this festival come in myriad styles, designs and themes. Originally made of special light-weight kite
paper and bamboo, rhombus shaped with central spine and a single bow, the
design of kites is now a full-grown and innovative enterprise. The
shapes, sizes, materials and basic structure have all changed down the line.
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| Round Kite |
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| Tiger Kite |
Incidentally,
the Kite-flying
festival is an important event held across various cities of Gujarat in India.
The festival draws expert kite-makers and flyers not only from India but also
from around the world. The entire day is filled with merry-making, where kites
of all shapes and colours soar in the sky, their tails mocking those below, in
a gesture of freedom and high spirits. Crowded rooftops, fun-loving rivalry out
do each other as several competitions are held at the state, national and
international levels. As night falls, illuminated box-shaped kites known as Tukkals add new sparkle and revelry as a
fitting end to a spirited day.
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| Eagle Kite |
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| Glider Kite |
Special mixtures of glue and ground
glass coat the twines with which the kites are flown. Experts especially
prepare these twines in various hues to match the kites that go from round,
glider-shaped, and bird shaped to kites with motifs that depict Bollywood with
latest movie posters on them or actors and actresses printed on them; super
heroes like Batman and Spiderman; fairy tales, animals, not forgetting pictures
of cricketers and famous politicians being printed on the kites.
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| Shahrukh Khan & Kareena Kapoor Kites |
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| Anna Hazare Kite |
With the sky
turning into a riot of colours, in an
environment replete with enthusiasm and excitement, Makar Sankranti conveys the universal message that reinstates the
importance of traditional values as much as it celebrates life and eternal hope.
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| Batman Kite |
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