Indian Kite Festival and Competition

The International Kite Festival (Uttarayan) is one of the biggest festivals celebrated. Uttarayan is such a huge celebration that it has become a public holiday in India lasting two days. During the festival, local food such as Undhiyu (a mixed vegetable including yam and beans), chikki (sesame seed brittle) and jalebi are served to the crowds. Days before the festival, the market is filled with participants buying their supplies. Every year, Gujarat celebrates more than 200 festivals. The International Kite Festival (Uttarayan) is one of the biggest festivals celebrated. [1] Months beforehand, homes in Gujarat begin to manufacture kites special box kites for the festival. The festival of Uttarayan marks the day when winter begins to turn into summer, according to the Indian calendar. It is the sign for farmers that the sun is back and that harvest season, Makara Sankranti/Mahasankranti, is approaching. This is considered one of the most important harvest days in India as it also marks the end of winter and the beginning of the harvest season. Many cities in Gujarat organize kite competitions among their citizens.

• Uttarayan Festival : Also known as the International Kite Festival, Uttarayan is one of the biggest festivals celebrated in India. It takes place in Makar Sankranti every year. It beckons the end of the month of the winter solstice and the beginning of longer days. One of the very few festivals in India that follows the solar cycle instead of the lunar cycle, Makar Sankranti and therefore Uttarayan, falls on the fourteenth of January every year. The festival welcomes everyone to take part, irrespective of their religion, gender, or nationality.

Uttarayan is celebrated mainly throughout Gujarat, but also in cities in Telangana and Rajasthan. The main event, which is the International Kite Festival, is hosted in Ahmedabad and attracts participants and spectators from all over the globe. Ahmedabad is often called the Kite capital of Gujarat. One of the best places to enjoy Uttarayan is the Sabarmati Riverfront. With a capacity of over five hundred thousand, the area remains flooded with vibrantly colored kites and smiling faces from as early as 5:00 in the morning. Another popular location is the Ahmedabad Police Station, where you can lay down and enjoy the lovely view. Most visitors come from around India, but there are plenty of international tourists as well, especially from countries like Japan, China, Malaysia, the UK, and France. Approximately eight to ten million people participate in the festival every year. The festival symbolizes the awakening of the Gods from their deep slumber; It is believed that the idea of flying kites was brought to India by Muslims from Persia. The Kings and Nawabs of the time thought of it as an entertaining sport and used it to display their skills and prowess. Beginning as a sport for the Royalty, it soon trickled down to the masses.

• Telangana International Kite Festival : Held in Hyderabad, Telangana, the International Kite Festival is a relatively newer kite festival that is as beautiful as the one in Ahmedabad. And takes place every year on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of January at the Parade Grounds in Hyderabad. Apart from simple kite flying, it includes fun, interactive workshops on kite making and many more cultural activities. Entry is free for all at the kite festival. One of the most popular events is the night-time kite-flying event that takes place on the first and second nights. The third night brings with it an incredible closing ceremony with a plethora of cultural activities including music and dance.
• Jaipur International Kite Festival : The International Kite Festival is an annual event that takes place on Makar Sankranti in the city of Jaipur. The colors of the pink city shine brighter as a slew of vivid, colorful kites adorn the placid sky of Jaipur and present an enthralling spectacle. The rock music and meticulous dancers add to the vibrancy of the ambiance. The festival attracts enthusiastic kite fliers from different parts of India to enjoy the delight of kite flying. It is one of the most colorful festivals and is marked by much amusement and excitement. Held on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, the Kite Festival of Jaipur takes place in January every year. Various kite flying competitions are organized at the Polo Ground of Jaipur where the festival is hosted. If you want to experience the glorious sight of thousand kites, make sure to catch a glimpse of the lanterns at night.
• Rann Utsav Kite Festival : Rann Utsav is one of the most awaited and deeply cherished festivals whose focus is the celebration of life, festivities, and culture of the Kutch and Gujarat. For more than two months, the world gathers around this small oasis, when rich colors are sprinkled over the barren lands of the Rann. The festival offers an incredible opportunity for visitors to experience the varied traditions and hospitality of the people of the Kutch. On a clear, full moon night, the region awakens to an all-new charm when the full glory of the white desert of Rann rises to its splendor. This amazing time is celebrated with an endless cycle of dance when age-old traditions and customs are revived.

Exhibiting colors all over, the numerous fairs held near the banks of a lake fill one with a memorable spirit of festivity, fervor, and joy. On the other hand, various organized tours around Kutch are a wonderful opportunity to mix with the people and be a part of the region while experiencing the exclusiveness and enthusiasm of the local life and occasion.

• Kite Festival at Marina Beach : Kite Festival at Marina Beach, Tamil Nadu: Held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and this festival showcases a diverse range of kites and attracts kite enthusiasts from across the region. It usually occurs in January.

The Kite flying festival is celebrated every year on Makar Sankranti, and there is an age-long history behind this merriment. Winters make one's body dry and dormant, and people suffer from frequent bouts of cold and cough. The move of the sun towards Uttarayana is believed to begin on Makar Sankranti. It is celebrated with much enthusiasm as its rays help heal the infections afflicted a person during winters. Thus, the people of Jaipur cheer over this movement of the sun from Sundhanu Rashi which is the month marked by Sagittarius to the Capricorn month of Makara Rashi.