Makar Sankranti Special: Kite flying in India

The festival of Makar Sankranti is synonymous with kite flying and marks the beginning of Uttarayan—the movement of the sun towards Capricorn, signalling the start of longer days. In states like Gujarat, colourful kites take over the sky. Even though there is no historical evidence or written account of the kite’s association with the festival, it is an age-old tradition. Here we trace the history of the kite in the Indian subcontinent and shed light on how a Chinese invention became pivotal to various festivals across the nation.