Uttran 2010

Airline pilots flying over gujarat airspace are advised not to fly too low on makar sankrant day, lest their jets hit the millions of kites dotting the skylines rajkot, surat, vadodara and ahmedabad. no exaggeration. kite flying is as dear to the gujarati heart as the dhokla.

Gujjus know Sankrant as ‘Uttran’…….Shouting yourself Hoarse,yelling ”Lapate !” or “Kiai po chee !” when you cut off a Kite or “Dheel De !” to your ‘Firki’ Holder,when you get entangled in a Kite Fight High in the Sky just simply gets you on the same High too ! …notwithstanding getting sunburnt and cutting your fingers !..I remember the tape on both mine and bhai's Fingers and replace the tape when the ‘Manja’ cut through it !…..Used to often attach long paper tails to kites with cooked rice being the adhesive !

Remember being yelled at while holding the firki !

The hallmarks of an expert Kite Flyer are many….ability to fly the Kite without wind assitance….tying the right ‘Kanni’…1-0 normally and 0-0 when high winds exist….steering the kites…selection of ‘manja’ and kites….strategy when in a ‘Pache’

So go and Literally fly a ‘Patang’ today…and eat some ‘Til’ Laddoos…You’ll be a True Indian celebrating ‘Uttran’ in True Spirit…..

Cheers !…Happy Kite Flying ! Every thing else can wait !