Every Indian kid's childhood is marked by a lot of kite flying, which is both a family activity and a popular pastime with friends. You will surely get reminded of your childhood as you read this when kite flying held a special place in our hearts. Let's take a break and talk about something fun and vivid like the kite festival.
An extremely well-known Indian holiday known as Makar Sakranti, which happens in January, is the occasion for the Kite Festival. The Kite Festival is widely observed across several Indian states with great eagerness and excitement.
India has a long history of kite festivals, and the Kite Museum in Ahmedabad has an impressive presentation of the history of kite flying.
The kite festival attracts expert kite makers from all over the world, and believe us when we say that it is a sight to behold.
On the day of Makar Sankranti, when the Kite Festival is observed, the sun starts to migrate away from the Tropic of Capricorn according to Hindu astronomy. The Makar Sakranti event and the well-known Kite Festival coincide with the gradual end of winter and the beginning of summer. Since it also marks the start of the crop harvest season, the nation's food producers and farmers commemorate this day with zeal.
Every year on January 14 in Northern India, people celebrate Makar Sakranti, also known as Uttarayan. In Tamil Nadu, people know this festival as Pongal. The Kite Festival, also known as Makar Sakranti, also commemorates Goddess Sankranti's victory over the cruel and malevolent Rakshasa (Demon) Sankarasur, who used deadly and evil methods against people.
In addition to love and joy, it is a time when people forgive, forget, and share sweet and savoury treats.
Here Is How the Kite Festival Is Celebrated in Different Indian States!
The North of India, Gujarat, and Rajasthan are where the Kite Festival is most widely observed. Mumbai too participates fully in this celebration. We are all aware of the vibrant colours and vibrant cities that the states of Rajasthan have to offer to us, and during the Kite Festival, places like Jodhpur become even more spectacular, leaving you speechless.
Imagine looking up at the sky and seeing nothing but a sea of bright kites beckoning you to join in the festivities! An awe-inspiring sight, indeed! Another city in the state of Rajasthan where the Kite Festival is significant and people go to great lengths to preserve its spirit by enjoying it with their loved ones in Udaipur.
The Kite Festival is a prominent event in other cities as well, including Ahmedabad, Jaisalmer, and Mumbai.
A Sight into - Gujarat's International Kite Festival
The Gujarat Tourism Department organises the International Kite Festival, which takes place each year in Ahmedabad, the state's kite capital. Every year, artists from all over the world who want to showcase their kite-making abilities take part in the festival.
The fervour of the colour splashes that fill the skies with vivid visions of all the colours coming together must be seen to be believed. The spectators vouch for the vivid recollections they create at this festival.
It resembles playing Holi outside in the open, which it does. People travel to India to take part in the Kite Festival from a variety of foreign nations, including Italy, China, Japan, France, Singapore, Indonesia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
Dishes to make on Makar Sankranti
Surya pooja and kite flying are done together but more importantly, they prepare some Indian dishes which are not only delicious but also healthy to eat during winter. Here we’ve compiled 6 of these yummy Indian foods which you can easily prepare at your home to add some deliciousness along with fun for the upcoming Uttarayan/Makar Sankranti.
● Undhiyu
● Jalebi
● Chikki
● Kachariyu
● Mamara Ladu
1) Undhiyu:
Undhiyu or Undhiya is one of the favourite foods of Gujarat. It’s made with different types of vegetables and spices which also make it healthy and nutritious. During Uttarayan, most of the Gujarati people prefer Undhiyu and Puri as their meals for the day. Several restaurants and Halwai shops offer this delicious food during Uttarayan only.
It's very simple to cook at home but if you don’t know how to, check out this recipe of Undhiyu where we’ve listed everything in detail. Don’t forget to use Vasant Classic Garam Masala to add extra deliciousness to your Undhiyu. This food will surely make your Makar Sankranti a memorable one.
2) Jalebi
Jalebi is believed to have originated from either Iran or India. It is one of the favourite sweet dishes of Indians. It is made using Maida flour/ all-purpose flour which is deep-fried in a circular shape and then soaked in pure ghee and sugar syrup to add that unique sweetness to the food. Jalebi is usually consumed along with some Namkeen items such as Papdi Ganthiya or Fafda.
During Uttarayan, people eat this mouth-watering dish with Undhiyu-Puri to add sweetness to spicy and sour combinations of food. More importantly, you’ll get plenty of Halwai shops nearby your home serving fresh and hot Jalebis during Makar Sankranti.
3) Chikki:
Chikki is an Indian sweet which contains nuts and seeds like peanuts, sesame seeds or Til and black sesame seeds. Different types of Chikki contain different seeds and nuts or a combination of both. It’s one of the traditional food items of India which uses Jaggery, pure ghee and nuts or seeds to deliver a combination of taste and health.
During Uttarayan, people bring home different types of Chikki for the family which is not only healthy to consume during winter but also adds deliciousness to the festival. Many people cook this at home and share it with their neighbours.
Speaking about the types of Chikki, there are several different variants but the most common among them is the groundnut or peanut Chikki. Other variants are sesame seeds Chikki, split chickpeas Chikki etc.
4) Kachariyu:
Kachariyu is a special Gujarati food which is only consumed from the beginning of winter till around Makar Sankranti week. It is prepared using pure and authentic Indian spices like Sesame Seeds, Dry Ginger Powder and Piparamul Powder. It is delicious and extremely healthy to consume during winter as it contains plenty of medicinal properties to protect your body from cold.
Usually, during Uttarayan or Makar Sankranti, people eat this in the morning to warm their bodies before going to the terrace for kite flying.
5) Mamra Ladu:
Mamra Ladu or Rice Laddu is a traditional Indian food prepared especially for Makar Sankranti. It is made using puffed rice also known as Muri, Mudhi, Murai, Murmure or Mamra and Jaggery. It is very simple to make and most homes in Gujarat prepare this food to consume during Makar Sankranti. People also share this with their neighbours to celebrate this festival together.
If you’ve ever celebrated Uttarayan in Gujarat, you’d be probably familiar with all of these dishes. If you’ve never celebrated Makar Sankranti in Gujarat, you should have these foods at your home to add flavours to your Uttarayan celebration. To prepare these foods, you can buy 100% pure and authentic Indian spices from Vasant Masala.
To conclude:
Vasant Masala spices have genuine flavours, and their natural colour adds value to the look, feel and taste of the dish. Make your occasions more special with spices and if you wish to buy from our exclusive range of spices, visit our official website to buy spices online.