Uttarayan, also known as Makar Sankranti, is a festival celebrated in India and Nepal on 14th of January every year. The festival marks the beginning of the sun’s northward journey and is celebrated by flying kites. People of all ages come together to fly kites and enjoy the bright, sunny weather. It is a time of joy, celebration and sweets. In Gujarat, the festival is particularly famous for kite flying and is celebrated with great enthusiasm. The festival is also celebrated in other parts of India and Nepal with different names and customs.
Uttarayan is also important because it marks the beginning of the sun’s northward journey and the end of the winter solstice. One of the main celebrations of Uttarayan is the flying of kites. People gather on rooftops and open spaces to fly colorful kites, often competing with each other to see who can fly the highest or keep their kite in the air the longest. The festival is also celebrated with bonfires, feasts, and traditional music and dancing. In Gujarat, it is very famous and known as “International Kite Festival” where people from all over the world come to fly kites and enjoy the festival.