Makar Sankranti marks the beginning of a new season and a new year across India. It's that time of year when the winter sun begins to loosen its grip on India. But for a state like Gujarat, it's much more dramatic. The skies turn into arenas, terraces become picnic spots, and music replaces the silence.
A Culture Written in the Sky
For people visiting Gujarat from abroad, it feels like witnessing a real-life, adrenaline- packed aerial drama of Kites. It's not just a game but rather a sport for Gujaratis, and definitely not a gentle one.
The rules are simple: cut your opponent's kite before yours gets sliced.
The kite string, called manjha, is coated with fine glass dust, turning it into a blade that is capable of snapping a kite in no time.
The moment someone cuts a kite, they shout “Kai Po Che!” which means “I have cut your kite!”
This kite battle knows no boundaries. Every age group is equally excited and invested in this event.
Teens and young adults are mostly the participants. The adults shout instructions to them continuously. The kids run through the lanes to collect the falling kites, treating them like rewards. Ladies sit and enjoy the sight of the sky along with chit-chats in the comforting warmth of the sun.
Beyond the Game
According to ancient astrologers, Makar Sankranti is celebrated when the Sun’s energy shifts into Capricorn, termed as Makar, symbolising longer days and beginning of the harvesting season.
The festival is also social. It breaks the barrier between rich and poor, young and old, and across languages. On this day everyone shares the same sky, same excitement and the same spirit.
The Grandeur of the Festival
Cities like Ahmedabad host the International Kite Festival, where flyers from across the world bring unique kite designs and techniques inspired by their country and culture.
You can witness large whales swimming through the big blue sky, dragons flying (which almost look real) and many more designs like monuments, God, flowers, or fictional characters. All competing in the same sky.
Pleasing Our Taste Buds
There is nothing quite like terrace culture with its food, music, and family energy.
Everyone gathers on rooftops with hot undhiyu (a traditional Gujarati mixed vegetable delicacy), jalebis, thermos flasks filled with tea, and Sankranti special sweets made of til (sesame seeds), gud (jaggery), and chikki.
The Golden Night Sky
After a day filled with fierce competition and enthusiasm, it's time for the festival to slow down and end on a peaceful, glowy note.
As the evening approaches, every family marks the close of the kite festival by releasing Tukkal kites into the sky. These kites are essentially paper lanterns. The night sky glows in warm shades of gold, creating a breathtaking sight, as if the stars are floating in the sky.
“Kai Po Che” Stays with You
For every traveller, Gujarat offers something rare. It's an instant where competition, enthusiasm, joy, excitement and the urge to soar higher than the rest come together in a single moment.
On your way back home, you carry unforgettable, beautifully chaotic memories formed through your connection with the sky.