Jaipur Sky Dazzles with Kites and Festive Cheer on Makar Sankranti
Jaipur celebrated Makar Sankranti with immense enthusiasm on Wednesday. People of all ages, from young children to senior citizens, joined the festivities with equal excitement. After several years, perfect weather conditions brought back the true spirit of the festival to the Pink City.
Rooftops Turn into Celebration Zones
From the narrow lanes of the walled city to modern residential colonies, rooftops across Jaipur transformed into vibrant celebration spots. Colourful kites filled the sky throughout the entire day. Kite enthusiasts remained glued to their terraces from morning until evening.
"Every year, wind speed usually increases around 4 pm," said Ajay Gupta, a businessman living in Vasundhara Colony. "This year, favourable winds blew consistently from 9 am to 5 pm in our area."
Festive Sounds and Traditional Delicacies
The snapping of kite strings mid-air created moments of triumph. Loud cheers accompanied each successful cut. Live commentary and blaring Bollywood music added to the lively atmosphere.
Kishan Paliwal visited his friend's ancestral house in Hunumnaji Ka Raasta specifically for the festival. "I wait for Makar Sankranti just to do commentary and sing my favourite songs," he shared enthusiastically. Kishan also enjoyed traditional delicacies including dal baati, feeni, dal ke pakode, and gajak.
Special Travel Plans for the Festival
Ankita Bhatt, a resident of Vaishali Nagar, decided to extend her stay in Jaipur specially for Makar Sankranti. "It feels wonderful to be in Jaipur during this festival," she expressed. "I managed to cut almost ten kites while my father held my charkhi."
Evening Celebrations Light Up the Sky
As sunset approached, the celebrations reached their peak. People released glowing lanterns into the darkening sky. Firecrackers burst in jubilation, creating spectacular displays.
Jaipur's skyline resembled Diwali celebrations once again this year. Fireworks illuminated the sky until late hours in many localities across the city.
Mahesh Natani, a resident of Jhotwara locality, noted the tradition. "It has become a ritual to end Makar Sankranti with firecrackers," he said. Children particularly enjoyed bursting firecrackers left over from Diwali.
Spiritual and Charitable Observances
Many residents visited prominent temples including Govind Devji, Khole Ke Hanumanji, and Moti Doongri Ganesh Ji. Acts of charity formed an important part of the celebrations.
People fed cows and helped those in need, giving the festival a meaningful spiritual dimension. These traditions added depth to the joyous kite-flying activities.
The combination of perfect weather, community participation, traditional food, and spiritual observances made this Makar Sankranti particularly memorable for Jaipur residents. The city truly embraced the festival's spirit with open arms and soaring kites.
