Yesterday was 14th Jan – “Makar Sankranti” or “Uttraan” as it is called in Gujarat. One of the happiest day for Gujarati people. This is the only Indian Festival which comes according to the english calender. It is always celebrated on 14th Jan. In Gujarat life comes to an stand-still. The roads become empty – as if there is a cerfew – every-body is on the terrace right from the morning to late evening – flying kites – music – enjoying undhyu – having fun ….
A Kite Festival was organised by the gujarati daily ‘Divya Bhaskar’ & Lions Club of Mandvi and the venue was the beautiful Mandvi Beach. It was a great experience. Sharing the same with all Kutchis away from Kutch …..
Almost 3000 people had gathered at the Beach
That is our Kite (Made in China – this stuff is flocking indian markets)
The participants of the competition had made kites of different size & shape & had various social messages ….
The Shark kite
Mera Bharat Mahan
Against Terrorism
Drive against ‘Polio’
Save Nature & Wildlife
One more against Terrorism
Kutch Kala – the Bandhani Kite
A few more colourful Made in China kites
This couple had got their Box Kite from the UK
This kite was made by actually joining peices of different coloured cloths to look like a serpent …
The Serpent Kite as it soared the sky with its 100 ft long tail …
This 20 feet high kite won the “1st” prize
It took 5-6 people to hold it upright & 4-5 people to pull the rope to launch it …
and inspite of its size & weight – it actually flew in the air ….
The 3 creators of the 20 ft high kite
How many kites can you fly on a single string ??? 1 .. 2 .. 3 .. 4 .. 5 …..
This guy actually managed an unbelivable 101 kites on a single string …
Jo chahe ho jaye – Kite Festival enjoy
Fish, Boat, House … the kites were in all shapes…. & they all actually fly ….
Myself, wife Rashmi, dear friends Tejas & Ketur, their baby Tisha and Kruti (in next pic) ….
A picnic at Mandivi beach in incomplete without ….
1) a Camel ride
2) kalakhata Gola
3) Vagarela Sev-Mamra with kanda, tameta, kothmari & leela marcha ….
4) A ride in Local rickshaws to the local wadis … &
5) last but not the least – a visit to the 72 Jinalay ….
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This Kite Festival was a truly an memorable event.
Hemang, I found this post in “Draft” mode but I published it since it looked complete. Hope that is ok.
Great post and awesome pictures. thanks so much for sharing.
Awesome pictures. 2 years back I went to Berkeley Kite festival and here are the photos from that.
But the Mandvi Kite Festival seems more fun 🙂 and with more variety of kites and better pictures too.
Nice pictures:)
Kalakhata Gola and Vagarela Sev-Mamra with kanda, tameta, kothmari & leela marcha …. My mouth’s watering…..
Excellent post.
Awesome pictures. Thanks so much for sharing this with us.
Awesome !! … wish I could be there too 🙂
Amazing event, Sankrant is best celebrated in Gujarat, but as well in Kutch …. truely amazing
Thank you for sharing such wonderful pictures
Wonderful pictures…missing the bhel and gola…….
amazing pics…. We wish we would be there…………Kash……
Nice pics.
great pics!
urged me to make hot.. hot.. vagarela sev mumra sukka bhel yesterday for mini snack 🙂
Sorry that anonymous is me