Page 54 - Seniors Today - Jan25 Issues
P. 54
Essay
The Fun Of Flying Kites
and Janmashtami are associated with kite
There are still a generation of few
enthusiastic seniors who take pleasure flying due to weather and wind conditions
in kite flying even if it is for that one in those areas.
day and enjoy their passion, writes One unique feature of this festival is
Malti Gaekwad that it is probably the only Indian festival
celebrated on the same date every year —14
This month is celebrated as Uttrayan January. It is observed with the movement
or Makar Sankranti – the festival of the Sun, while the others are observed
dedicated to the Sun God. It marks the with the movement of the Moon and are
northward journey of the Sun into the associated with the full moon ‘purnima’.
northern Hemisphere or “Uttrayan” and In Gujarat and Maharashtra people give
the beginning of the zodiac month of till-gul to each other and take blessings
Capricorn also known as ‘Makar’. The from the elders. Married women also give
transition also marks the end of winter haldi-kumkum to each other as a good will
months and the days start to get longer gesture. These customs have a major social
after this. For Hindus all over the country importance. Till (sesame) and gud or gul
it is an important festival as it heralds the (jaggery) both seem to be special to this
beginning of an auspicious period and is festival and are the main ingredients in all
considered really good for marriages. The the sweets made during this festival. These
festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm two and puffed rice are offered even to the
and fervour in different ways. In some holy fire of Lohri which is celebrated in
parts of North India Raksha Bandhan north India.
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