Kite Festival is also known as Uttarayan or Makar Sankranti in Gujarat.
The International Kite Festival in Gujarat is held every January 14th and is one of the main tourist attractions in Gujarat. Uttarayan is a two-day public holiday in India because it is such a huge celebration in this region of Gujarat and many other states.
During the festival, The crowds enjoy local food including Undhiyu (a mixed vegetable dish with yam and beans), chikki (sesame seed brittle), and jalebi.
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About The International Kite Festival
The festival brings together master kite flyers and creators from around the world to show off their work and decorate the skyline with unusual kites. In previous years, kites from around the world have adorned the skyline of Gujarat-Malaysia brought their wau-balang kites, Indonesia brought llayang-llayang, kite innovators from the United States brought giant banner kites, and Japanese rokkaku fighting kites shared the space with Italian sculptural kites and Chinese flying dragons.
Registration For The International Kite Festival
About Makar Sankranti
In the Makar Sankranti People of all ages gathered on terraces or rooftops to fly kites. Music is in the air, and traditional dishes have been carefully prepared for this celebration. Delectable Gujarati foods such as surati jaman, udhiyu, kathiawadi bhanu, and others were supplied to those in need of sustenance.
Uttarayan will be celebrated from 7th January to 14th January 2024 at Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad. This festival is known as Makar Sankranti in other parts of North India and Pongal in Tamil Nadu.
Uttarayan officially begins each year in January, but in actuality, people get into the festival spirit months before when they begin making and selling kites in anticipation of the big celebration. The famous Patang Bazaar in Dilli Diwaraja in the center of Ahmedabad, Gujarat’s largest city, has the most intense selling and purchase of kites. This market is open 24 hours a day during the week leading up to the festival.
Visitors come from around India for the celebration, many Gujaratis who live outside the state choose this time to make their trip home, and international visitors have come from countless countries, including Japan, Italy, the UK, Canada, Brazil, Indonesia, Australia, the USA, Malaysia, Singapore, France, China, and many more.
Makar Sankranti History
Makar Sankranti is an auspicious day when the sun enters the zodiac sign of Capricorn (makar), indicating the end of winter and the start of warmer months and longer days. This auspicious festival also marks an important start of the spring season, which represents new blossoms and harvests. It is also known as Uttarayan because the sun begins its journey to the north on this day, known as the Uttarayan journey.
According to legend, even the ancient people celebrated Makar Sankranti, but the goal was to worship the Sun God for him to save them from the hard cold weather. Another famous legend holds that on this day, King Bhagirathi brought the Ganga to Earth.
The Uttarayan season, which begins with Makar Sankranti, is also mentioned in the epic Mahabharata, as Bhishma waited for Uttarayan to leave his mortal body. People who die during this time are said to be free of the cycle of birth and death.
Attractions Of Uttarayan In Gujarat
1. The Patang Bazaar
2. The Kite Fighting Competitions
3. Food Bazaar
4. Glittering Night Sky
5. Mouth-watering Gujarati Cuisines.
Places To Visit In Makar Sankranti
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is the best place to experience this kite festival. While almost all of the northern states celebrate the holiday, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Haryana also offer an interesting view of the celebration.
How To Reach International Kite Festival Ahmedabad
By Road
Ahmedabad is well connected to all other cities.
By Rail
Ahmedabad Junction Railway Station is the nearest railway station.
By Air
Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport is the nearest airport.
FAQ On The International Kite Festival
Where is the International Kite Festival in 2024?
The International Kite Festival, held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is largely a celebration of Makar Sankranti, which represents a lot of new beginnings and good luck.
Is Kite Festival happening in 2024?
The International Kite Festival will take place in Ahmedabad on January 14, 2023, to coincide with Makar Sankranti, or the festival of Uttarayan.
What is the kite festival called?
The kite festival is celebrated on Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan, which celebrates the sun’s passage from the dhanu rashi to the makara rashi (Capricorn) (Sagittarius). It is said that this day marks the beginning of the sun’s (Uttarayan) northward journey, making the celebrations extremely auspicious.