Uttarayana

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For the kite-flying festival, see Makar Sankranti

Uttarāyana (उत्तरायन) is the six month period between Makar Sankranti around (January 14) and Karka Sankranti around (July 14), when the Sun travels towards north on the celestial sphere. The period from July 14 to January 14 is known is Dakshināyana (दक्षिणायन). The starting of Uttarayana is celebrated as Makara Sankranti throughout India, which is declared as National festival by Government of India.

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[edit] Makar Sankranti

Makara Sankranti (It is a sanskrit word) is the harvest festival of India. Sankranti means transmigration of Sun from one Rashi (something akin to the zodiac) to the other. Hence there are 12 such Sankrantis in all. But the transition of Sun from Dhanu Rasi to Makara Rasi marks the starting of Uttarayana which means northern movement of Sun. Since Uttarayana is Considered as auspicious time, Makara Sankranti is celebrated as the beginning of that period It is celebrated by many cultures in different manners.

The Gujarati people are the most prominent in celebrating Uttarayana, which is a prominent part of Gujarati culture by flying kites all over Gujarat and in Mumbai, India. Sankranthi is the most important festival of Telugu people, like Deepavali is for Tamil people.

[edit] Fun and kite flying on Uttarayan

The word Uttarayan came from joining two different Sanskrit words "Uttar" (North) and "ayan" (movement towards). Uttarayan (Makar Sankranti) is the day when the sun starts to travel towards north as a sign of coming summer. People from all age group, having fun feeling in their hearts and well dressed, come on the roof of their house early in the morning.

On this beautiful day, Millions of people pitch themselves at the terrace and roofs, enjoy flying kites with cheers and smile on their face. They enjoy Uttarayan with sound of 'Kaypo che' (I cut the kites) and other local slang’s. Sky started changing colors like having rainbow of kites in it. People of Gujarat, also enjoy this festival by having food called "Tal-sankadi" and "chiki" (Sweets), which is like sesame bar and peanut bar.

Gujarat state is famous for its cultural diversities and festivals. Among these, the festival of Uttarayan is one of the magnificent and festival of all people. It is festival of gathering and having fun together. People enjoy their kite flying skills by cutting the flying kites whole day. Chilly night also can't stop the joy of the people after enjoying whole day. The fun flows continuously till whole night, as kite lovers enjoy flying white kites in dark night. Next day (15 January) called "Vaasi Uttarayan", also celebrated with as much fun of "Uttarayan". The flow of such an amazing joy stays alive for continuous two days.

[edit] Kite flying and manja, a serious threat to bird and human life

Manja, the glass powder coated kite flying string is extremely deadly not only to other kites but to birds flying in the sky and to humans. Many thousand flying birds get slashed wounded and killed every year in most cities in the region, often times endangered species by getting entangled in the deadly manja of flying kites and having their wings or necks cut. Many kite fliers get deep cuts in their fingers when they are not careful when handling manja while flying kites. Several people die when their necks get slashed with the deadly manja, people commuting on the roads in two wheelers like cycles, motor cycles and scooters are specially vulnerable to manja from kites being flown nearby getting entangled in their necks and causing deep cuts and death from resulting blood loss.

Many people also get seriously injured and lose their lives when they fall off rooftops when flying and fighting kites and handling the manja reels and vigorously pulling or releasing it during battle of the kites. In the Indian subcontinent kites are generally flown and fought from the rooftops of houses.

Kite running is the practice of running after drifting kites in the sky that have been cut loose in battle with other kites. Several kite runners die each year gazing up and running after kites as they are so fixated on the drifting kites in the sky that they run into the path of oncoming traffic and trains without looking down or fall from trees and buildings which they were trying to scale to get at kites that landed on top.

Others gravely endanger their lives when they walk around in the middle of congested towns and cities facing up with their eyes fixed on fighting kites in the skies, the excitement to see which of the fighting kite wins and which one loses sometimes makes people dangerously unaware of what is happening on the ground in their immediate surroundings causing injuries and collisions with the traffic.

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Pongal is more important than deepavali for south Indians.

In Gujarat, Uttarayan (Makar Sankranti - KiteFlying) is very popular among all age people. Some young enthusiasts from Chicago arranged a kiteflying festival. Here are some photos: