Sankranthi is a festival celebrated in India on 14 January. It is also know as Pongal that reminds us of our close associations with Nature and Life. More info was posted in my blog in last year: SANKRANTI - a festival of Pongal delights http://suryanarayanasv.blogspot.com/2009/01/sankranti-festival-of-pongal-delights.html
Sankranti means transition. So, what happens to a harvest festival in an urban areas like Hyderabad? Makar Sankranti is also celebrated as Kite festival. Kite flying is fun and I look forward to this season of Sankranti every year as it reminds me of my childhood days. The skies of the cities are dotted with beautifully designed colorful kites as it happens every year during Sankranti Festival.
All eyes on kites
Multi-coloured kites of different shapes and sizes kiss the city’s sky during the Sankranti days. A variety of new kites particularly diamond-shaped kites made of paper or PVC attract the attention of kite enthusiasts during this festival season. Kites sale pickup momentum in the Hyderabad Old City, especially in the famous kite market at Gulzar Houz. Colorful kites are showcased in the shops of this largest kite market in the state. People come to this 100-year-old market, which has over 200 shops selling a wide variety of kites selling at a cost ranging between Rs.20 to Rs 1000. I have read in Newspapers that kites with pictures of the hero or heroins of the popular movies / television serials, recorded the maximum sales. Kites featuring film stars, tricolour and members of the Indian cricket team, soar the sky as the sun slowly sets over the horizon. Unlike paper kites, the Chinese ones are made of nylon parachute cloth to withstand strong breeze in open areas. Kites come in various colours, shaped like aeroplanes, fighter jets, birds and superheroes - what not! Such kites can also be preserved for a whole year and can be flown anytime. Apart from regular kites, most kite enthusiasts buy these to fly them during the ‘off’ season,”
With Sankranti just a day away, streets here in Hyderabad are abuzz with shopping activity. Womenfolk and girls seen bargaining with pushcart vendors for Rangoli powders over prices, while men throng the kite stalls asking `manjas' - a special thread used for kite flying and new designs of kites. During this season the sky gets dotted with kites, the earth is adorned with Rangoli designs laid in front yard of houses, locally called`muthyala muggulu' in Telugu language.
Kite flying tones-up health
Sun rays are very good for health in winter season. Kite flying is a good way to get direct sun rays. This Kite festival encourages people to go to the roof tops or to the open grounds to get exposed to sun. People involved in kite festival keep their back to the sun. This saves their eyes and face from direct sun rays. Kite flying also strengthens arm muscles and a good exercise for legs and eyes. People keep their eyes on the flying kite (Patang) constantly. It enhances their vision and strengthen their eyes. All these have a positive effect on health.
This must be the reason one can see crowd in the roof tops of Hyderabad during Makar Sankranti to indulge in friendly kite festival [Patang utsav] competition and have loads of fun.
Wish You & Your Family A Very Happy Sankranti.
Sankranti means transition. So, what happens to a harvest festival in an urban areas like Hyderabad? Makar Sankranti is also celebrated as Kite festival. Kite flying is fun and I look forward to this season of Sankranti every year as it reminds me of my childhood days. The skies of the cities are dotted with beautifully designed colorful kites as it happens every year during Sankranti Festival.
All eyes on kites
Multi-coloured kites of different shapes and sizes kiss the city’s sky during the Sankranti days. A variety of new kites particularly diamond-shaped kites made of paper or PVC attract the attention of kite enthusiasts during this festival season. Kites sale pickup momentum in the Hyderabad Old City, especially in the famous kite market at Gulzar Houz. Colorful kites are showcased in the shops of this largest kite market in the state. People come to this 100-year-old market, which has over 200 shops selling a wide variety of kites selling at a cost ranging between Rs.20 to Rs 1000. I have read in Newspapers that kites with pictures of the hero or heroins of the popular movies / television serials, recorded the maximum sales. Kites featuring film stars, tricolour and members of the Indian cricket team, soar the sky as the sun slowly sets over the horizon. Unlike paper kites, the Chinese ones are made of nylon parachute cloth to withstand strong breeze in open areas. Kites come in various colours, shaped like aeroplanes, fighter jets, birds and superheroes - what not! Such kites can also be preserved for a whole year and can be flown anytime. Apart from regular kites, most kite enthusiasts buy these to fly them during the ‘off’ season,”
With Sankranti just a day away, streets here in Hyderabad are abuzz with shopping activity. Womenfolk and girls seen bargaining with pushcart vendors for Rangoli powders over prices, while men throng the kite stalls asking `manjas' - a special thread used for kite flying and new designs of kites. During this season the sky gets dotted with kites, the earth is adorned with Rangoli designs laid in front yard of houses, locally called`muthyala muggulu' in Telugu language.
Kite flying tones-up health
Sun rays are very good for health in winter season. Kite flying is a good way to get direct sun rays. This Kite festival encourages people to go to the roof tops or to the open grounds to get exposed to sun. People involved in kite festival keep their back to the sun. This saves their eyes and face from direct sun rays. Kite flying also strengthens arm muscles and a good exercise for legs and eyes. People keep their eyes on the flying kite (Patang) constantly. It enhances their vision and strengthen their eyes. All these have a positive effect on health.
This must be the reason one can see crowd in the roof tops of Hyderabad during Makar Sankranti to indulge in friendly kite festival [Patang utsav] competition and have loads of fun.
Wish You & Your Family A Very Happy Sankranti.
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