Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan. (Kite Festival )

The festival of Uttarayan is a uniquely Gujarati phenomenon, when the skies over most cities of the state fill with kites from before dawn until well after dark. The festival marks the days in the Hindu calendar when winter begins turning to summer, known as Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan. On what is usually a bright warm sunny day with brisk breezes to lift the kites aloft, across the state almost all normal activity is shut down and everyone takes to the rooftops and roadways to fly kites and compete with their neighbors.

Kites of all shapes and sizes are flown, and the main competition is to battle nearby kite-flyers to cut their strings and bring down their kites.

Parents who normally find their children hard to get out of bed for school will find them setting the alarm for 5 am on 14th Jan., to get up and start flying kites in the ideal pre-dawn wind. The atmosphere is wonderfully festive, as whole families gather on the rooftop, special foods like laddoos , undhyu are prepared for eating over the course of the day, and friends and neighbors visit each other for group kite-flying fun. Often people look out for which of their friends has the optimum terrace for kite flying and many will congregate there. This leads to many social gatherings that would not otherwise occur, as one person?s brother?s friends meet their classmate?s cousins, because they have all gathered on the rooftop of the same mutual friend. People often find themselves marking time by Uttarayans: ?I met you three Uttarayans ago, right?? is a not uncommon phrase. At night, kite fighters send up bright white kites to be seen in the darkness, and skilled flyers will send aloft their tukkals with strings of brightly lit lanterns in a long line leading back down to the rooftop. From early morning to late at night, Uttarayan provides lots of fun and beautiful sights to remember for a long time.

Since 1989, the city of Ahmedabad has hosted the International Kite Festival as part of the official celebration of Uttarayan, bringing master kite makers and flyers from all over the world to demonstrate their unique creations and wow the crowds with highly unusual kites.
(Source : Gujarat Tourism )

I have listed recipes of some mouth watering dishes, which can be easily prepared on Makar Sakranti or Uttarayan.
Festivals in India don't come alone. Rather, they bring with them wonderful and delicious food items. Every festival has some special dishes associated with it, without which the celebrations are incomplete.  Makar Sankranti is another festival that is known for some special dishes related to it.

1) Tal Sakri or Til Chikki-Sesame seed candy.
2) Mamara na laadu or Murure ke ladoo - Puffed rice balls.
3) Undhiyu-Special mix vegetable curry.


1) Tal Sakri or Til Chikki-Sesame Seed Candy



3) Undhiyu (Special mix vegetable curry)