Sweets made of sesame and jaggery, and colorful kites flying in the sky are the hallmarks of Makar Sankranti. Without these this festival is considered incomplete. The festival is celebrated with great pomp, especially in Delhi and Gujarat, although kite flying is a common practice in most Indian cities during Makar Sankranti. The tradition of flying kites on Makar Sankranti has been going on since the time of Lord Ram and is also related to the Mughal period.
Kite and Lord Ram’s relation with Makar Sankranti
There are religious beliefs associated with flying kites on Makar Sankranti. According to Tamil Ramayana, Lord Rama flew a kite for the first time on Makar Sankranti. It is said that his kite flew so high that it reached Indraloka (the abode of Indra). Since then the tradition of flying kites on Makar Sankranti started.
Mention in Baal Kand of Ramcharitmanas
‘Ram one day the Chang Udai.
May you reach Indralok.
In Ramcharitmanas, Tulsidas mentions several instances where Lord Rama flew kites with his brothers. This is mentioned in ‘Bal Kand’:
Scientific basis of kite flying
The cold starts decreasing around Makar Sankranti. By flying kites, people welcome the sun’s rays in winter, which improves physical health, because sunlight provides Vitamin D. Flying kites on winter mornings brings energy to the body and helps in curing skin diseases.
history of kite flying
The history of kite flying is about 2000 years old. It originated in China, where kites were used to send messages. Kites were brought to India by Chinese travelers Fa Xian and Hiuen Tsang. In the beginning, kites were used to send messages to each other on the battlefield. The Mughals organized kite flying competitions in Delhi. Gradually, kite flying became popular as a new sport in Indian homes.