Celebrating Sankranti

Makar Sankranti is the thanksgiving fest of India and is also synonymous with flying colourful kites, says Shehla Faaiz.

 

Makar Sankranti Makar Sankranti is a Hindu festival which is celebrated on the 14th of Jan each year.

 

The festival is celebrated by taking dips in the Ganga or any river and offering water to the Sun god. The dip is said to purify and bestow punya. Makar Sankranti is celebrated throughout India as a harvest festival. Special puja is offered as a thanksgiving for good 

Special Food harvest.Since the festival is celebrated in the mid winter, special food is prepared to keep the body warm and give high energy. Laddu of til made with jaggery (Gur) is specialty of the festival. It is celebrated with much pomp in Andhra Pradesh for 3 days.

 

 

Makar Sakranti is synonymous with Kite fl ying in Gujrat. Gujarati's await this festival to fly kites. The skies of Gujarat as well as many cities all over India are filled with variety of kites, as people enjoy them up on their terraces. Kite flying competitions are 

a highlight of this fest.

 

 

There's an old saying in China - "those who fl y a kite can have a long life." It means that kite flying on a regular basis can lead to longevity. When you look at your kite flying in the vast clear sky, your concentration strengthens the nervous system which boosts the health of the body and internal organs. 

 

 

The City of Weifang holds the World Kite Museum in China. The museum building is just like a dragon fl ying in the sky and has collection and display of kite treasures of all times and all countries as well as kite-related cultural relics and materials.