SPECIAL

The Flight Of Colours

It’s that time of year when the sky is lit up with colours and smiles. When the clouds dance with threads and the melody of laughter mingles with the air. A thousand kites sway with the wind. One set of hands leads the thread and the other set allows the reel to flow. If you still haven’t figured it out, it’s the festival of Sankranti,

Hyderabad’s favourite festival.

Sankranti has a beautiful and rich history to it. This festival is in the honour of the deity Surya, the sun and it is also known as Makara Sankranti. The people of India and Nepal celebrate their harvest on this lovely day.

The delightful festival is celebrated in different parts of India and is known through different names. It is called Maghi in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, Magh

Bihu in Assam, Sukarat in central India, and Makara Sankranti in some parts of South and North India. -By Umera Riyaz JANUARY, 2021 TULIP

Let’s dig in a little more about this festival in Telangana. Sankranti is a three-day celebration in the state of Telangana. The first day is called Bhogi, the festival of transformation, it comes a day before Makara Sankranti. On this day people gather old things from their house. Then at dawn, they light a bonfire and burn unnecessary household items. The second day is the main event, Makara Sankranti, the festival of kites, families get together and make an offering to their God. Later they fly kites together. On the third day, the animal kingdom is honoured, this day very inmate for farmers they celebrate their cattle.

However, Celebrations were easy before the pandemic. Now the routine of celebrations is different than before. Here’s how you can spice things up for Sankranti 2021:

Terrace Setting:

Garden/Backyard Setting:

Picnic: Set a bright rug or carpet at the centre of your terrace. Put your patio furniture at the side or near the railing. Arrange your food items on a table at the end so nothing gets in the way of kite flying session and don’t forget your stereo to enjoy some music.

Hang some fairy lights around your backyard. To spice things up, you can also add balloons and banners. Get a pretty bed sheet and spread it across the yard, throw in some cute cushions and enjoy this event with close friends and family.

Plan an intimate Sankranti with family and friends. Spot an outdoor area safe for a picnic, make sure you're following the covid norms. Pack yourself some sweet and savoury items for the trip. Most importantly don’t forget to pack your kites. Feel the beautiful breeze while you fly those colourful kites.

“Sankranti is a joyful event. It always makes me nostalgic. I remember very vividly as a child I would visit Hyderabad during summer vacations, although Sankranti would’ve ended months ago. I would make sure I flew kites with my cousins and friends. We would gather some neighbours as well and fly the kites together. We would complete against each other at who could cut and grab the most kites. Now that I’m living in Hyderabad I always celebrate this festival by flying kites,”

Rehan Hazari,

Entrepreneur “If I’m being honest, I have flown more than a thousand kites in my lifetime. As a child, I would always have a kite in my hand. I am a kite lover, I would cut kites and collect them. But as I grew I lost touch with the activity. During the lockdown, I was stuck at home and spending my time aimlessly on social media just didn’t feel right. That’s when I picked the sport again. I’m the happiest person in the world when I’m with a kite in my hand,” Junaid Akhtar, Photographer