For actor Riteish Deshmukh, Makar Sankranti has always been about small moments rather than strict rituals. He sees the festival differently now. It is not louder or bigger. It is slower and more intentional.
Kite Flying Then and Now
Riteish Deshmukh spoke to the Times of India in 2021 about his Makar Sankranti plans. He said the day would be a family affair. He planned to fly kites with his sons, Riaan and Rahyl. They would also enjoy traditional sweets together.
"My kids are at the age where they will understand the activity," Deshmukh explained. "Last year, we did try our hands at it. This year, I am going all out to teach them to make kites and fly them."
The celebration would include homemade tilgul. This is the sesame sweet exchanged during the festival. Deshmukh quoted the familiar phrase, "Tilgul ghya, god god bola." This means taking sweets and speaking sweetly.
Kite Flying in Mumbai
Deshmukh reflected on how kite flying was not a tradition in his hometown. His family comes from Latur. Makar Sankranti there did not emphasize kites much.
"Though kite-flying happens mainly in Gujarat, it has been adapted well in Mumbai, too," he said. "My father hailed from Latur where they didn't emphasize so much on flying kites on that day. So I learnt it from my peers in Mumbai."
He recalled growing up in a government bungalow. His father, Vilasrao Deshmukh, served as Maharashtra's chief minister then. Afternoons after school meant rushing to the terrace. Friends would follow.
The focus was not always on skill. "My friends would also come over to fly kites," Deshmukh shared. "But more than flying them, we would be busy chasing kites that would come crashing into our space."
Creating New Traditions as a Father
Those childhood memories now shape his approach to the festival as a father. In 2020, his sons tried flying kites for the first time. In 2021, he planned to take it further. He wanted to help them make the kites as well.
Over time, his place in the tradition has changed completely. He is no longer just part of the rooftop crowd. Now he is the one teaching. He steadies little hands. He turns the fun into a meaningful lesson for his children.
Riteish Deshmukh's Makar Sankranti story shows how family traditions evolve. Personal memories blend with new responsibilities. Simple joys like kite flying connect generations in beautiful ways.
