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Makar Sankranti/Uttarayan 2015

This is one of my favorite Indian festivals. This festival celebrates the coming of the harvest season, and the shift from winter to summer in India. In India and especially in Gujarat, kite flying is a huge part of the celebration. People fly kites from terraces, trying to cut others’ kites and bring them down. The string is sharp, so when they rub against each other, one will break.

As an American born child of Indian parents, I’ve yet to experience the festival in its full glory in Ahmadabad. I look forward to going to the park each year, where the local Gujarati community celebrates it together.

The kites are all of the same generally structure, though the designs vary. The skies are filled with colors and you can hear people shouting, “Kai po Che!” (We cut it!) and (lapet!) roll in the string! Its also popular for people to run after and catch falling kites, as they can be reused. It’s like a trophy!

Unlike american kites, the string comes completely separate from the kite. There is a method to attaching the two, and the string can be reattached to other kites.