14 January
India celebrates the festival of Makar Sankranti on 14 January every year (on 15th if it is a leap year).
It marks the transition of the sun from the zodiac of Sagittarius to Capricorn (makara). As this coincides with the sun's movement from south to north, it is dedicated to the sun god Surya.
Regional flavours mark the celebration of this festival. However common to all flavours is social gatherings, song and dance, bonfires, spiritual practices and of course, good food, especially sweets made from sesame seeds and jaggery.
In Gujarat, in western India, the festival is know as Uttarayan, and is celebrated by flying kites over two days. Aerial fights are common, the aim is to severe your opponent's kite from its string. Screams of 'kai po che' rent the air when one succeeds in de-capacitating an opponents kite.
There are some downsides. People fall off rooftops, ground glass coated kite strings - great for the aerial battles, banned by law which is difficult to implement - cause serious injuries and sometimes death. Not reported is injury to birds and animals. However volunteers, charitable trusts and vet clinics come together to treat the injured animals.
14 January
India celebrates the festival of Makar Sankranti on 14 January every year (on 15th if it is a leap year).
It marks the transition of the sun from the zodiac of Sagittarius to Capricorn (makara). As this coincides with the sun's movement from south to north, it is dedicated to the sun god Surya.
Regional flavours mark the celebration of this festival. However common to all flavours is social gatherings, song and dance, bonfires, spiritual practices and of course, good food, especially sweets made from sesame seeds and jaggery.
In Gujarat, in western India, the festival is know as Uttarayan, and is celebrated by flying kites over two days. Aerial fights are common, the aim is to severe your opponent's kite from its string. Screams of 'kai po che' rent the air when one succeeds in de-capacitating an opponents kite.
There are some downsides. People fall off rooftops, ground glass coated kite strings - great for the aerial battles, banned by law which is difficult to implement - cause serious injuries and sometimes death. Not reported is injury to birds and animals. However volunteers, charitable trusts and vet clinics come together to treat the injured animals.