The Festival of Kites : Makar Sankranti 2018
The aura is full of happiness, the breeze is full of colours, people are laden with colourful clothes and the boxes are full of laddoos. Kids are thronging to fly kites, neighbours are rushing to cut others kites, with fun all the way. Evenings are blessed with bonfires and families are dancing around and serving Til (sesame seeds) preparations. Aren’t these spirits so joyous? That’s the elation which Makar Sankranti, commonly called as Kite festival offers.
Makar Sankranti, an Indian festival full of fun and frolic is right on 14th January. The name is derived with the significance that on this day, Sun moves into the house of Capricorn Zodiac. Hence the name – Makar, derived from Capricorn and Sankranti means the movement of earth from one zodiac to the another. It marks the beginning of spring and the tail end of the winters. This is rather the beginning of the harvest season for the farmers and is celebrated with a great pomp and show. Though, Makar Sankranti is more famous in northern and western parts of India, the same day is celebrated in Punjab as Lohri and in South India as Pongal and the festivities varies across the regions.
Start of International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad (Occasion of Makar Sankranti/Uttarayana) :
With winter vacations On, you can take your kids to “International Kite festival” which gets organized every year in Ahmedabad with great fanfare. Participants travel from different parts of the world with some of the amazing kites to have fun. Have a look at the video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHwdO7WFwYc
Story and Significance of Makar Sankranti :
There are many stories behind this joyous festival, but the one holding the spirit of celebrations is that on this day Lord Vishnu ended the long old war between the Devas (Good spirits) and Asura’s (Evil spirits). Hence it is a start of a beautiful and righteous living for the mankind.
- This festival respects and celebrates Mother Nature.
- It asks us to pledge to get rid of various demons inside us and live a life full of joy and harmony.
- Makar Sankranti seeks us to be polite and have voice and thoughts as sweet as Jaggery.
- It creates a sense of joyous beginning of the year.
10 best activities around Makar Sankranti with Kids:
Why not unleash the full festive spirit and engage kids creatively here? Here are some ideas to include in Makar Sankranti celebrations with Kids.
1. Fairs :
Hurrah! This is the time when most of the cities are laden with numerous fair and mela’s for kids. Though in routine you might not be attending the same, let kids have that fun and frolic experience at the city fairs. It can be a great family bonding as well.
2. Design your own Kites:
Yes, this is a grand Kite Flying day, why to miss the pro fun? Engage you child in designing kites with their favourite characters, so that Kite Flying can be more of a fun for children. Making own kite is simple and doesn’t takes more than 20-25 minutes. Isn’t that fun mama’s? Let the creativity soar high in the sky.
3. Host Kite Flying Competition :
This is one of the competition, we always looked forward to as a child. I’m planning to re-create the magic this year, as flying kites is loved by all kids and adults equally. Also, this is time with good sunshine in winters and we can have enough of Vitamin D. Competition, also makes kids socialise and find new friends amongst their neighbours. While kids are having fun, adults can really enjoy “vo katta” experience by cutting the neighbours kite. I fondly have many “vo katta” stories, since my dad was an amazing Kite flyer.
- Do keep kids hydrated.
- Make sure you organize Kite flying competition at a safe place.
- You can also apply good SPF cream for direct protection from sunlight.
4. Plan Picnic :
If you do not plan for Kite Flying competition, why not have a family fun by planning picnic in the outdoors? Call on some good friends and make the picnic a blast for kids and family. Take along some traditional lavish delicacies as Til laddoo’s (sesame- jaggery balls), Revari, Sarson-da-saag & makki-di-Roti for a traditional festive feel.
5. Engage your kids in making Til Laddoo’s (Sesame seed – Jaggery balls):
This one of of the healthiest sweet to be cherished in winters. Allow kids to roll on the balls for their part of fun and have some bites in between. Personally, my son is super excited to make these balls and share them with his friends as a token of love. Distribution of these balls to friends and family is a beautiful tradition, promoting the sweetness in relations.
6. Gratitude to farm animals :
Makar Sankranti is a day when cattle’s are treated as Gods, for it is because of them, that we get so many healthy things in life. You’ll find that cattle’s are decorated with flowers, bells, colourful bright paints. They are fed special meals and thanked for their presence in our lives. Kids can actually go to some villages and have real fun with cattle’s. Its a good time for kids to learn the importance of cattle’s, animals, birds on this earth and pay their gratitudes.
7. Rangoli :
Oh that’s a pure fun for kids! I remember, my kid making his own colourful rangoli on the floor of our house on Diwali. Then he was just 3 years and he was making his A,B,C,D with red, yellow and blue colours. Now that he has a much better drawing, he is eagerly waiting to draw beautiful organic coloured Rangoli. You can also try Floral rangoli.
8. Bonfire on Sankranti evening :
This was a family tradition for us. Basically the idea is more so close to Lohri celebration in Punjab (on 13th Jan). Have a bonfire setup and let all friends, family gather around in new clothes, dance to the tunes of some folk songs, exchange the sweets, and have an amusing eve. What better than to have Bonfire party in the chilly night?
9. Let kids know the significance of Makar Sankranti :
Kids should not just know this festival as a Kite flying day or a day to savour on Til laddoos. They should actually know the essence of this festival, why is it important to farmers, why cattle’s are important to us, why do we need to have a heart full of gratitude and so on. It is a time to teach and imbibe some good habits in lives.
10. Go shopping :
It’s a colourful festival, chose some bright festive clothes and let kids decide their outfits. They’ll be really excited for it, I’m sure. But, try not to shop more that what is actually needed. After all, we need to save our mother nature, which is the spirit of this festival. Try some colourful clothes from BabyCouture .
Some facts on Makar Sankranti for kids :
- Also known as the festival of Kites.
- International Kite Festival has already begun in Ahmedabad, (7Jan – 14th Jan).
- It is the only festival that falls on 14th January, every year.
- this festival the onset of the very famous, Kumbh Mela (held every 12years)of Uttar Pradesh.
- Makar Sankranti falls on Equinox, i.e, the day and night are believed to be equally long.
- It marks the end of ill -omened month of Poush
Are you ready for Makar Sankranti/Uttarayana? Share me your ideas as to how are you planning to make it special? Are any of you planning to participate in International Kite festival 2018?
Cheers to the festivities!
Love all the ideas.. I am eagerly waiting when my boy will start understanding these things and we can enjoy all these celebrations ?
You have mentioned every good ideas here. Pretty sure those who have kids, even if they are not going to celebrate that much, at least they can have all of these things without spending their money.
I love Makar Sankranti – for the kites and the delicious Bajre Ki khichadi .
Our children should know about these age-long festivals and the rituals/traditions attached to them. You’ve shared some very good ideas to engage the kids. The video is superb! So many kites, amazingly designed…. 🙂
I’ve always wanted to go to a kite festival. They have one on the gulf coast at Padre Island National Seashore in the spring every year. Maybe I’ll get to go this year. It looks so pretty.
The only thing missing from this post is your own (or a link to a) recipe for Til Laddoos! – my kids would love those, even though it’s darn near impossible to find jaggery around where we live (I’ve tried). Actually, they would love the whole concept of a kite-flying festival – and since our part of the globe is still very much in winter for several more months, we’d all love to be enjoying kite-flying weather!
This is quite an unique post. Usually all posts around the season are traditional and recipe Lauren. All these ideas are pretty basic. Thanks a bunch!
My kids love to fly their kites. We have gone to a smaller scale festival here and I’m hoping to get to a larger festival if I catch word of it sooner this year. It’s always so fun to watch the tricks people can do and see all the beautiful, unique kites.
This is such a lovely post! Would love to spend this Makar Sankranti this way with my little kiddo! My 4 year old would love to spend it this way.
I love Makar Sankranti. Til laddu and bonfire are my favourite! I am not too fond of flying kites though.
I loved makar sankranti when I was in Gujarat. I used to love kite flying
Reminded me of the time when I used to fly kites with my family ?
Have always loved makar sankranti since childhood.. those till laddus and kites! Thank you for this lovely post!
I really want to visit Ahmadabad during makar sankranti. Such wonderfully it is celebrated there. I too have seen my dad flying kites like a pro, so have this connection with kites. Agree that the new gen too needs to know about this beautiful festival..!
Makar Sankranti is such colorful festival. I like seeing flying kites in the sky.
I can’t get ever forget the memories of Makar Sankranti when I was a child. The festival has an essence, til laddoos, flying kites, so many things to do. These days, I hardly see someone flying kites and don’t see the same spirit we used to had. Your post is very nice as you have given so many ideas to spend the festival the best way.
True even I don’t see many people flying kites, Thats why I’m planning to do a kite flying competition.
Yes, looking forward to celebrate Make Sankranti.
The festival of kites is one of the beautiful festival in India..
This sounds like a great Festival for kite lovers. Shall tell my hubby about it.
I always like to teach my dons Indian traditional festivals. Would surely join once this festival of kites.
Kite flying always reminds me of my beautiful childhood. Lovely post
I love makar sankranti festival as i used to fly kite when i was small.
Great write-up. Loved the way you have mentioned minute details about the festival. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
WOW these kites are amazing! I never heard of such a festival, Im sure my kids would love to attend one day!
I’ve never even heard of this before but it sounds wonderful! I’m excited for when my daughter is a little older and will start to understand things like this a little better!
Love makar Sankranti festival and you have really shared great ideas which would be of great help indeed
O wow, sound like a fun event. I almost wish I could be in attendance as I was reading through the activities. Thank for your post!
Maybe one kite from our company:-D, wish I can paly with friends next year. It must be great then!
Would love to see kite from your company, Hope you can have fun in 2019!
That would be an amazing sight to see. We went to a small regional festival a few years ago and their was quite a few kites dancing through the air. Was a beautiful sight.
Sounds Interesting ! The best part of this festival is Kites and Sweets 🙂 Happy Makar Sankranti wishes to you and your family !
I love this particular festival for it’s vibrancy and also as this is beginning of new year. We call it ‘khichdi’ in our hometown, however here in Mumbai we celebrate it by Kite flying & muching on yummy til gudd laddoo
What a fun festival. my kids would love the making their own kites.
This looks so much fun! Would love to visit this festival. looks like it’s great for kids!
I love all this idea. This is a wonderful opportunity for children. Surely your boy has great memories with the Festival of Kites.
Wow !! Love flying kites since childhood 🙂 Makar Sankranti is the day!!
oh wow. This is awesome! it looks so pretty. I’ve sen some hot air balloon, I didn’t know that there’s kite festival. And yo can make your own kite too. Nice!
You have shared loafs of ideas to make Makar Sankranti beautiful.. We do make Til K Laddu at home during this time..
Oh wow this is great for kids! With fairs, kites, animals, sweet making, bonfires, rangoli and picnic all at one event! You cant go wrong!
That looks wonderful – although I wish I’d known about it a couple of months in advance. Perhaps something to consider for 2019 for us then!
This is such a lovely post with detailed information about the festival. We also have lots of traditions for the day and celebrate it with the entire family.
What wonderful ways to celebrate such a fun festival! I’d love to teach my little boy about it, once he’s old enough!
What a neat festival. This would be fun to visit in person and experience it up front. Definitely sounds like a unique celebration!
This sounds like such a wonderful festival. It sounds beautiful and something kids would would have a blast at!!
This looks so fun, I love all the different things available to do, not just kites! It also looks beautiful.
NIce article.
keep it up.
Thanks!
Wow! i love kites! I used to do this when I was a kid I even made lots of it. It’s really really fun. I was even thinking if I have spare time I would love to do it again with my friends haha. Thanks for sharing this great post!
Great to know of your love for kites!
I just love this kite festival. in India it is also called Makar Sakranti. People love to make different different kind of sweets.