I've just returned from flying kites for the past 6 hours. I am slightly sunburned and rather parched, but I had a beautiful day with the locals celebrating the Hindu Kite Festival, also known as Makar Sankranti.
We climbed into a rickshaw around 10:30 a.m. and headed to a rooftop about 10 minutes away in Ahmedabad. I have been volunteering at a Leprosy Colony, India, and today a festive spirit filled the entire country of India. This holy day was all about relaxing, flying kites, and spending time with friends and family.
The volunteers were invited to the founder of Manav Sadhna's private home for a day-long celebration. His home was surrounded by lush green trees, playful monkeys, and stunning outdoor spaces to enjoy amongst new and old friends.
The first task of the day was to learn how to tie the string properly to the kites! There is definitely a science to this, and I had to try several times before I got the right measurements and angles and number of knots. After the kite was correctly constructed, it was time to learn how to make it soar. I thought this would be easy, but I quickly realized that the people who had the highest kites (more than 100 yards in the air!) had been doing this for years! My kite never got as high as those who have lived here and practiced for lifetimes, but with much help, my kite was soaring high in the sky.
Then...it was cut from the sky in an instant. The goal of the day is to have the last kite flying. So, it is customary to cut the kites from the air. Finely ground glass is added to the dye, and then mixed with flour to create a paste. That paste is then applied to the kite string. The glass makes for sharp string so kites can be cut from the sky.
Caution of course must be taken so that injuries do not happen. I wore a scarf all day to protect my neck from the strings--many deaths have occurred in the past. I also wore sunglasses to protect my eyes. Many of the locals fly kites from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m. must wrap their fingers in protective tape--but even after a few hours, I still witnessed bloody hands!
It was such a treat to be in India on one of the biggest festivals of the year. When I arrived back to my hotel, I opened the curtains to find the sun setting over thousands of people on rooftops, kites billowing in the breeze. It was a perfect way to end the day!
Author's note: To read about the religious significance of Makar Sankranti, click here.