Kite festival in Ahmedabad

Uttarayan is originally a special day of the Hindu calendar. It is celebrated every year on 14th January, known as Makar Sankranti in other parts of north India, and Pongal in Tamil Nadu, and continues on the 15th.

Uttarayan is celebrated across Gujarat, with major centers of kite-flying in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Nadiad, among others. Surat, especially is known particularly for the strong string which is made by applying glass powder on the row thread to provide it a cutting edge.

Since 1989, the city of Ahmedabad has hosted the International Kite Festival as part of the official celebration of Uttarayan.

Visitors come from around India for the celebration.  Many Gujaratis who live outside the state choose this time to make their trip home, and international visitors come from countless countries, including Japan, Italy, the UK, Canada, Brazil, Indonesia, Australia, the USA, Malaysia, Singapore, France, China, and many more.

Here are some of the Do’s and Don’ts published in Times of India.

There is an advertisement for eye protection, but surprisingly there is no ad for skin protection.

The competitive spirit ensures that every kite cut rents the air with 'kaipo chhe' or with “Lappet”.  People play loud music. They feast on undhiyu, fafda, jalebi and chiki. Kiters will also fly ‘tukkal’ (oil lamps or candles tied to kites) after sunset.  In Ahmedabad, there is an amazing view of sky full of thousands lanterns and fireworks at Uttarayan evening. It can be viewed on YouTube.

POPULAR ARTICLES.

Wanted for Uttarayan: A Walled City rooftop on rent

TNN Jan 8, 2014, 07.09AM IST

AHMEDABAD: Ask any Amdavadi kite enthusiast about Uttarayan and he will swear that there is no better place to feel the true energy of the festival than the Walled City. The competitive spirit ensures that every kite cut rents the air with 'kaipo chhe' even as people feast on undhiyu, fafda, jalebi and chiki.

Such is the reputation of the Walled City's revelry that people from other parts of Ahmedabad have given out advertisements seeking a terrace on rent on January 14 and 15! The 'Khusboo Gujarat Ki' ads where Big B sells a riot of colours in the sky has only piqued interest. One such ad has been given by Jay Patel. "I live in Satellite where Uttarayan is tepid as compared to the Walled City," he says. "I placed an ad because I will be hosting 25-odd guests from Delhi and Mumbai for the festival and wish to showcase it at its glorious best."
Jitu Shah, trustee of JP High School in Dariapur, says that he has received half a dozen requests from people living in western parts who want to rent the school terrace. Mayur Dave, BJP's municipal councillor from Khadia , which reverberates with maximum kite-flying fervour, says that the Walled City sees traffic of over one lakh people including those from western parts of Ahmedabad and international tourists for Uttarayan celebrations . "Many middle class families offer their rooftops on rent for Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 for the two days," says

SURAT

Efforts on to save birds this Uttarayan

January 10, 2011 | TNN

SURAT: With Uttarayan round the corner, birds run the risk of losing their lives to killer manjas hanging in the air. There are now many groups which want to save the birds injured by manja. Every year over 2,500 bird rescue calls are received by different non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in January. Despite the best efforts of the volunteers, not many injured birds, however, survive from the cut of the killer manja, which also prove fatal to two-wheel riders.

RAJKOT

PETA against Chinese manja

January 10, 2014 | TNN

RAJKOT: With a view to create awareness and sensitize people against the deadly Chinese manja that is fatal for hundreds of birds during Uttarayan, activists of People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) will hold a demonstration here on Friday. The activists will wear costumes of bleeding birds entangled in manja and will hold a sign in the shape of a kite that reads, "Cut out glass-coated manja, not wings. " The demonstration will be held near Crystal Mall on Kalawad Road.

 

Helpline for bird rescue in Ahmedabad 

http://theahmedabadblog.com/helpline-for-bird-rescue-in-ahmedabad.html

1. When a bird hits the ground, do not catch it immediately. Give it some time to gain stability on its own while protecting it from cats and dogs.
2. If a bird has not received serious cuts and is able to fly, let it go. Do not hold the birds too tightly. 
3. Do not feed them water.
4. If a bird is badly injured and seems to require first aid, then cover its eyes with a soft cloth, like a sock.   This will prevent them from fluttering their wings.
5. Put the injured bird in an empty bucket and cover it with cloth until help arrives. 
6. Do not fly kites between 7 am and 9 am as well as between 5 pm and 7 pm. These are the hours when there are maximum birds in the sky.

 Here are a few helpline numbers for bird rescue in Ahmedabad:

1. Jivdaya Charitable Trust: 09924418184
2. Namoh Namah Parivar: 9429410101, 9429410108, 9898302525, 9898402525
   Address: Senior Citizen Garden, Opp. Labdhi Vikram Flats, B/H Dharnidhar Derasar, Vasna, Ahmedabad
3. Geetaben Rambhia Smruti Ahinsa Trust: 079 49010035
4. Asha Foundation: 9879877281, 9825317707, 9824037521

Other websites for more details about kite festivals in ahmedabad.

http://www.gujaratindia.com/about-gujarat/kite-festival.htm

http://www.kiteclubindia.in/international-kite-festival-ahmedabad-india.html

https://www.facebook.com/InternationalKiteFestival2013

http://www.narendramodi.in/narendra-modi-to-open-3-day-international-kite-festival-2014-at-sabarmati-riverfront-on-january-12/

Update1: [16.01.2014]

AIRBORNE TROUBLE:

Chinese lanterns adorned the Uttarayan night sky at a price. The flying lanterns delayed around 50 flights at Ahmedabad airport on Tuesday and Wednesday, besides causing a dozen fires across the city.