Kites  

Makar Sankranti, dedicated to the sun god, is one of the most ancient Hindu festivals celebrated across India with much fanfare. The festival marks the beginning of the auspicious period of Uttarayan. Flying kites, preparing traditional sweets with jaggery and sesame seeds and taking holy dip in rivers form an integral part of it, as does meeting with loved ones and exchanging greetings and sweets. In this episode of Culture 'Shauk' with Sunita Iyer, let’s take a look at the significance of the festival of Makar Sankranti and also find out why kite flying is an important part of the celebration.

According to the Hindu calendar, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as the festival of harvest. Also, pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah were featured on kites sold across Punjab.