Makara Sankranti

International Kite Festival Jaipur 2024 | Makar Sankranti Festival 2024 Kite Festival means Makar Sankranti; it’s a very popular festival in Jaipur. It’s celebrated on 14 January in every year. On this day all age group people enjoyed by kite flying. In Jaipur it is specially celebrates as a kite flying competition between many groups. In every five years, the Kite Festival is organized by the Government of Rajasthan, where expert Kite makers show off their kites. In this competition the winner team got so many prices. Also this festival Makar Snkranti celebrated with great enthusiasm. Early morning many people take holy dip in the river and worship to rising sun (sunrise). It is said that there is much importance to take dip in the holy river then give much donation. It is said that also we should have donate of rice, corn and clothes to the poor and needy people on this auspicious day.

History
The international Kite Festival in Jaipur has a long-standing history. The custom of flying kites is associated with Makar Sankranti. People celebrate the blessed day by flying kites, from their rooftops. Kite flying competitions are also organized on this festival.
People fly kites on Makar Sankranti because they receive the benefits of sun exposure. During winter, our body gets infected and suffers with cough and cold and the skin also gets dry during this season. When Sun moves in Uttarayana, its rays act as medicine for the body. During kite flying the human body is continuously exposed to sun rays, which eradicates most of the infections and insanitation.

Rituals And Celebrations
The people of Jaipur, on this day take a holy dip in Galtaji, an important pilgrimage in Jaipur. They pray to sun god to bless them with good health, wealth and good crop. On this occasion, the pink city turns all colourful with the beautiful kites in the sky. Makar Sankranti is a government holiday in Jaipur, and it undoubtedly increases the pleasure of the festivities. Shopkeepers keep their shops shut, banks remain closed and everybody gets engrossed in kite flying on this day. Various kite flying competitions are also organised by numerous Kite Clubs in the month of January. State government even organises "International Kite Festival" in Jaipur for a stretch of three days wherein kite lovers from all over the world come and participate.

Food
The people of Jaipur celebrate this festival of Makar Sankranti with various sugary delights made of sesame seeds i.e. Til Ke Laddu, Gajak (famous Jaipur's Sesame Brittle), and Feeni (famous Jaipur sweet made of fibres).