Sankranti skies lose their colour as fewer kites fly

Ever-changing traditions

Bengaluru: Makar Sankranti, the harvest festival, is witnessing a gradual decline in kite-flying, once an integral part of the celebrations. Families, especially in urban areas, are not keeping the tradition alive, leading to a sharp drop in the sale of kites and cotton manjha.

Althaf, owner of Bombay Kite Centre in Shivajinagar, noted a considerable fall in demand this year. "Shops used to be filled with crowds this time around, but the numbers have declined," he said.

Despite this trend, some families are keeping the tradition alive.

Lokesh, an engineer in his mid-40s, travels from Bannerghatta to Shivajinagar to buy kites and manjha for his family. "Every year, without fail, my family flies kites on Sankranti," he shared. "It's a fun activity that brings people together."

However, younger generations are finding it hard to keep up with the tradition.

Shagun, a college student, recounted how her family had discontinued the practice due to hectic schedules. "It's an important tradition," she acknowledged, "and we must teach younger generations its significance."

Gourav, another student, reminisced about the days when the sky would be filled with colourful kites on Sankranti. "Now, there are very few people who do it," he lamented.

Here's to sweet beginnings

Chandru Iyer, the British Deputy Commissioner to Karnataka and Kerala, celebrated Makar Sankranti by shopping for festival essentials at Gandhi Bazaar.

The diplomat interacted with vendors and even prepared ellu-bella, a traditional Sankranti dish.

“Ellu-bella thindu, olle matadu (eat sesame-jaggery and speak nicely)”, Iyer shared in a video on X, using the popular Sankranti phrase, which encourages goodwill.

British diplomat Chandru Iyer at Gandhi Bazaar on Tuesday.