14th January - Kite festival in Gujarat

Being an Indian, 14th January is one of the favorite festivals and India is so diverse that the same date 14th January has multiple festivals and different meanings in various regions of India.

Starting from North, Lohri in Punjab, Pedda Panduga in Andhra Pradesh, Magh Bihu in Assam, Magha Mela in parts of central and north India, Pongal in Tamil Nadu and Makar Sankranti in Gujrati. Every region has different celebrations and traditions which makes India as United by states, divided by the dates and tradition. Every where in India, the culture, the celebration and the vibes are soo positive.

Being a Gujarati, and a kite lover, makes me pen down this article. I mean just look at the sky, you can see colors flying, and the view with colorful sky variety of Kites gives a pleasure to the eyes. Basically starting from the importance, Kite festival for me is not just flying the kites, but an emotion. Flying of kite, controlling the kite with the string, and the kite fights in the sky, is just onto another level. So crazy that the strings and a kite describes the life. No matter you pull the strings or you let go of the strings, the Kite fight goes on as our life goes on with or without the things we want to control.

KITE FESTIVAL INDIA

In Ahmedabad, there's an international Kite festival held every year since 1989 bringing master kite makers and flyers from all over the world to demonstrate their unique creations and wow the crowds with highly unusual kites. In past years, master kite makers from Malaysia have brought their wau-balang kites, llayang-llayanghave come from Indonesia, kite innovators from the USA have arrived with giant banner kites, and Japanese rokkaku fighting kites have shared the skies with Italian sculptural kites, Chinese flying dragons and a lot more. It is held at different places in Gujarat along with different timings and a lot more to see.

Also, let's talk about how I celebrated it in 2021. Just having a glance at it, have a look at the video.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CKG2rdVpAkr/

A day before the kite festival, on 13th January, night, all the cousins, gang of friends and they sit together for tie-ing the strings to the Kite. called as "kaniya bandhva". Also, the next morning, after the early wakeup, and a good breakfast, it is all about the colorful sky, the music on everyone's terrace, the family time, the food and all.

The morning, everyone get's ready with their horns on and goes starts on with the Kite. Now, me and most of the time girls have to hold the spin (Phirki) for their brothers or vise versa and that in a way is also a fun. Like "phirki pakadne ke liye koi to chahye" . Also, more interestingly, the vibes are like, musice, dance, photoshoot, have fun, and kites and everything with the dearest ones.

In the lunch time, the special food for Gujarati is - Undhiyu and that is a sabji that is famous. Like it is sold everywhere around the state on 14th Feb and a food item not to be missed if ever visited Gujarat. In the noon time also, all the family members and adults are soo free and the gang just grows on to enjoy and dance. At 5pm, it is all about the snacks like chiki, and the sugarcane and Hinkhoj (jinjara - in gujarati).

Again, it is all about the kites, the food, the music, the vibe and the people. During the sunset, mostly lanterns are flew and the Kite festival is almost to be over.

Believe me or not, the day is divided by mobiles and busy schedules, but united by Kites.

Imagination is the highest kite one can fly and fly like a kite, be it with the wind or to oppose the wind, just fly high.