Sky full of kites: DDA’s ‘Patang Utsav’ brings festive joy in Delhi on Makar Sankranti

The skies came alive with vibrant colours on Makar Sankranti as the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) organised the ‘Patang Utsav’ at the ‘Baansera’ — a sustainability-themed bamboo park located at Sarai Kale Khan on the banks of the river Yamuna.

To mark the winter harvest festival, people of all ages engaged in friendly kite-flying competitions. and neighbourhoods echoed with the sound of woh kaata! (I cut it!) as enthusiasts try to cut each other’s strings.

The two-day festival, which started on January 13, was inaugurated a day ahead of the Makar Sankranti festival by Delhi LG VK Saxena.

It saw over 30 professional kite flyers from Rajasthan, Sikkim, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Lakshadweep and Gujarat, who exhibit their art.

Varun Chaddha, who is from Punjab’s Indian kite team, is one such professional. His kite with an image of lord Ram and Sita was appreciated by everyone. “I learned this craft from my mother. Kite flying is not just a fun activity but also great for health. One gets lots of sunlight while flying a kite,” he said.

The festival has major attractions including a theme pavilion, which displays history of kites, in the form of a kite gallery showing use of kites during times of war, fighter kites, and the significance of kites in India.

Makar Sankranti, celebrated in North India and various other parts of the country, marks the transition of the sun into the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makara). This festival typically falls on January 14 or 15 each year, symbolising the end of the winter solstice and the beginning of longer days.

The entry to the festival is ticketed for the general public with a small fee of just Rs 50.