Uttarayan – The Festival of Kites – OYO Hotels: Travel Blog

Room Guests
Room 1

DISCOVER

January 19th, 2016 by Abhijit Chakraborty

Uttarayan is that time of the year when kites fly the highest! Celebrated every year on January 14, many people observe the festival on January 15 as well.

Uttarayan in Ahmedabad

While kites are flown in different parts of Gujarat on this occasion, the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad is probably the most fun place to be if one really wants to enjoy this festival to the fullest. Terraces are filled with people and the sky is covered with colourful kites. The music plays aloud and the cheers are even louder. “Kai Po Che”, a phrase that translates to “I have cut” can be heard every few minutes. The beating of drums reverberates on every “Kai Po Che” moment. People here are serious about their kite-flying skills and some enthusiasts get their strings custom-made to get an edge over the others in the sky.

Is That A Bird, Is That A Plane? No, It's A Kite! — Is That A Bird, Is That A Plane? No, That’s A Kite!

Kite-flying is also a team sport. While the person flying the kite seems to be doing most of the hard work, the person handling the spindle has an equally important role to play. This task is usually performed by the younger siblings while the elder ones try to fly their kites higher and higher.

Uttarayan also offers a host of delicious food items replete with local flavours that keep everyone energised during the days of the festival. The most iconic dish is Undhyu, a dish made from seasonal mised vegetables, served with Puri. Undhyu is a delicacy and usually prepared the most experienced cook in the family. Another remarkable dish is Chiki, a cake made by melting jaggery mixed with peanuts, sesame, etc. and set to dry.

But what really makes this festival enjoyable is the fact that it brings people together. It occupies a very special place in people’s hearts and unlike some other festivals, where people are sometimes obligated by so many traditions, Uttarayan actually feels like a long party!

And this time, OYO was there too!