Uttarayan: Gujarat's Kite Festival, Traditions and Food

Uttarayan is Gujarat at its most joyful. From sunrise on 14 January, every rooftop in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat and Rajkot fills with families, music, food and thousands of paper kites. The shout of "Kai po che!" (roughly, "cut it!") rings across the city whenever a kite is cut loose.

Why Uttarayan is celebrated

Uttarayan marks the sun's movement into Makara (Capricorn), and the start of its northward journey, Uttarayana. It is celebrated across India as Makar Sankranti, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Lohri the night before in Punjab, Magh Bihu in Assam and Khichdi in Uttar Pradesh. It's one of the few Hindu festivals set by the solar calendar, which is why it lands on 14 January most years.

In Gujarat, it's a two-day celebration: Uttarayan on the 14th and Vasi Uttarayan on the 15th.

The rooftop day

The night before, families prepare the firki (spool) and tie the kanna, the carefully balanced bridle that decides how a kite flies. Markets like Ahmedabad's Raipur and Dhalgarwad stay open all night, selling kites in every size and colour.

On the day itself, rooftops become stages. Friends gather on the best-placed terraces, speakers play film songs, and kite battles (pech) go on until sunset. At night, sky lanterns (tukkal) go up, though many cities now restrict them for fire safety.

The International Kite Festival

Gujarat Tourism organises the International Kite Festival every January, usually along the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, with flyers from many countries showing giant, sculptural kites. Smaller editions happen in other cities. Dates are announced by Gujarat Tourism each winter.

What everyone eats

Undhiyu is the star, a slow-cooked mix of winter vegetables (surti papdi, purple yam, sweet potato, baby brinjal) and methi muthiya. It's eaten with puri and jalebi. Through the day, there's a steady supply of chikki (peanut or sesame brittle), til ladoo, shingdana and sugarcane, plus boiled ber and guava.

Sesame and jaggery are traditional because they're warming in winter, and sharing them symbolises sweetness in relationships.

Giving back

Daan (charity) is part of the day: many people donate grain, clothes and food, and feed cows. Bird rescue camps run by volunteers and the forest department treat birds hurt by kite strings.

Safety tips for a good Uttarayan

• Use cotton thread rather than nylon or glass-coated manja, which injures birds and people.
• Avoid flying kites between 6–8 am and 5–7 pm, when birds are flying home.
• Keep children away from roof edges and power lines.
• Two-wheeler riders often fix a guard wire to protect against loose string.
• Sunscreen and caps are essential; the whole day is spent in the sun.

Frequently asked questions

When is Uttarayan celebrated?

Uttarayan falls on 14 January in most years (occasionally 15 January, depending on when the sun enters Capricorn), followed by Vasi Uttarayan the next day. Check a Gujarati panchang for the exact year.

What is manja?

Manja is kite string coated with a paste (traditionally rice glue and powdered glass) so it can cut other kites' strings. Glass and nylon 'Chinese' manja are banned or restricted in many places because they injure birds and people.