INTERNATIONAL KITE FESTIVAL
Held On: 14 th January, Every Year.
To Celebrate: Makar Sankranti.
Attractions: Colourful Kites Of Sizes & Hues.
International Kite Festival is held at
Ahmedabad on
January 14 every year, to coincide with the festival of Uttarayan or Makar
Sankranti. Makar Sankranti is a festival that heralds a change of season
marking the movement of the sun into the northern hemisphere - a
celebration to mark the end of winter. The skies are blue and clear, a
cool breeze blows and a feeling of anticipation, joy and jubilation grips
all who celebrate the occasion.
In
Gujarat, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as the
kite-flying day. Kite-flying day in Gujarat is an extraordinary day,
unlike at other places.
Ahmedabad ,
Gujarat's premier city, leads the way in the celebration of Uttarayani,
and is the venue of the International Kite Festival.
Kite-flying festival is being held in important cities of
Gujarat each year. The festival draws expert
kite-makers and flyers not only from cities of India but also from around
the world. Designer's Kites of infinite variety are displayed at the
venue.
THE BELIEF:
The festival is a time of thanksgiving for the religious, since it marks
the awakening of the gods from their long slumber. The gods who are
believed to have slumbered for six long months are now awake and the
portals of heaven are thrown open. It is also a signal for merry-making.
The temples are thronged with visitors
and alms are distributed freely.
KITES OF ALL HUES:
From dawn to dusk, people of all ages fly kites rejoicing in the spirit
of the day. The blue January sky is enlivened by kites of different
colours and hues. Kites soar in the sky, their lines moving as if alive.
Crowded rooftops, fun-loving rivalry to outdo each other, and delicious
Gujarati feast are the hall-marks of the day.
A tremendous variety of kites are seen with friends, neighbours and total
strangers indulging in kite fights. The nights see the arrival of the
illuminated box kites, often in a series strung on one line, to be
launched into the sky. Known as Tukkals, these kites add a touch of
splendour to the dark sky.
THE EXPERT TOUCH:
The festival draws expert kite-makers and flyers not only from cities of
India but also from around the world. Special mixtures of glue and ground
glass cover the lines with which the kites are flown. Experts specially
prepare these lines before the great day. They are dried and rolled onto
reels known as 'firkees'. Unless used carefully the strings are sharp
enough to cut a finger.
HISTORY OF KITE FLYING:
In fact, kite flying has a fascinating history; man had the desire to fly
since time immemorial. It was the spirit of man and his imagination that
ultimately saw the invention of kites. Their fascinating history is
depicted in the Kite Museum of
Ahmedabad .
200
BC: Huein Tsang flew a kite at night to overawe the army of Liu Pang
of Han dynasty in china.
100 BC to 500 AD: Kites were used by the army generals to send
signals and to measure the distance of enemy camps.
930 AD: The earliest mention of "Shiroshi" in Japanese
literature where 'Shi' means paper and 'Roshi' stands for the Chinese
bird.
960 to 1126 AD: Flying kites became a popular activity of
recreation in China. People celebrated the 9th day of the ninth month, a
day signifying the banishment of evil, by flying kites.
1542 AD: For the first time the word ' Patang' finds mention in
Indian literature. It was used by Manzan in 'Madhumalti', where the flight
of a kite is associated with the loved one by a poet.
Marathi poets Eknath and Tukaram also described kites in their verses,
where the word ' Vavdi' has been used.
1752 AD: Benjamin Franklin lofted a kite to prove that lightning
was of the same electric matter as the one that generated electricity.
Wooden sticks were affixed to four corners of a square silk handkerchief
and a projecting metal wire with sharp edge was attached to it. When an
electrified cloud passed over the kite, lightning was drawn down through
the pointed wire.
1870 AD: Australian inventor Lawrence Hargrave designed box-kites
whose stability inspired others to create power driven aeroplanes.
1896 AD: Alexander Graham Bell designed ' tetra' by combining
lightweight sticks. He flew 'Frost King" kite of 256 cells and
improvised it to have 1300, and later 3393 cells.
At this time, Samuel Cody carried out experiments with man carrying
diplane gliders.
1902 AD: Cody's contemporary, the Wright brothers, were successful
in becoming airborne, age of aviation begins.
(Check all that apply)
Know more about this Package !!!
279/A, Masjid Moth, South Extention - II
New Delhi - 110 049 (INDIA)
Tel : +91-11-4164 3999 / 2626 2004
Fax : +91-11-2625 9695
Email : info@indiainfoweb.com
Home | Attractions | Destinations | Hotels | Tour Packages | Travel Agents | Help DeskDisclaimer | Privacy Policy | Old Site | Feedback / Contact Us
Copyright © 2007 India Infoweb. All Rights Reserved.