Welcoming spring
CHANDAN SEN
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Come January, and it's time for the kite fever to take hold of the people of Rajasthan.
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Shouts of "Alag Hai" and "Who kate" reverberate from the rooftops to the accompaniment of drums as kites of adversaries are cut down.
PHOTO: BHAGYA PRAKASH K.
FLYING COLOURS: Kites of all shapes and sizes.
Rajasthan boasts of its colourful culture, cheerful people and their extraordinary passion for kite flying or Patang bazi, a special cultural sport and pastime of the region. The winter season entices us to come and partake of the fun, frolic and the sheer exuberance that marks the `Kite fever'. It is celebrated to herald the coming of spring and what better way can there be, to celebrate the season of colour, flowers and gaiety. Paper and polythene kites painted in different colours and in a variety of shapes and sizes dot the skies, with enthusiasts competing to fly their kites. Kite flying is a leisure sport and a passion among foreign tourists too. Jodhpur and Jaisalmer organise annual Kite Fests. The rich tradition of kite flying in the State is also due to the patronage of the erstwhile rulers who found the sport both entertaining and a way of displaying their prowess. In the charged atmosphere the day-long festival of Makar Sankranti on January 14, heralds the transition of the sun into the Northern hemisphere.
Grand celebrations
It is also a big day in most parts of India when the young and the old can be seen with their heads turned to the sky. Everyone joins in this riotous celebration and shouts of "Alag hai!" and "Woh kate" reverberate from the rooftops to the accompaniment of drums as adversaries' kites are cut down.
Many don't trust the manjha (thread) available in the market but prefer to make their own. The secret of successful kite flying is in its string. Rajeev, a kite flier from Bundi, says, "Traditional Patang baaz hasaccess to some of the best-kept secrets of making razor-sharp string, which gives them an edge over others." Making a kite is an art and flying it a fine art.
The day is not long enough and people try to fly kites after dusk, culminating in a grand finale of sparkling fireworks.
Perfect day for flying kites
Makar Sankranti is a mid-winter festival falling on January 14 in non-leap years and on January 15 in leap years. It is the only Hindu festival which is based on the Solar calendar rather than on the Lunar calendar. Kites are flown for most part of the day in the region. The objective of this sport is to cut as many rival kites as possible to attain air superiority. Additionally, a cut kite may be also picked up by another kite giving the collector a free kite. The season is perfect for spending a day out in the sun. The season is windy, making it ideal for kite flying. At night special lantern kites with candles embedded are flown.
The International Kite Festival is held in the capital city of Ahmedabad on January 14 to coincide with the festival of Uttarayan or Makar Sankranti.
