International Kite Day

International Kite Day is an annual celebration held on January 14 every year.  Anyone wants to be a kite flying in the sky.  Kites are often brightly colored, light, decorated, and provide lift and air resistance.  The existence of kites was found several centuries ago in various parts of the world.  The constantly raised and pulled kites will look beautiful to see and make anyone fall in love with kite flying.  However, International Kite Day is not just about kites.  It is celebrated as the International Kite Festival or Uttarayan marking the beginning of summer in India.

The History of International Kite Day

International Kite Day originated in India, in the state of Gujarat, which is famous for the number of festivals that take place every year.  Residents of Gujarat start making kites months in advance so they can be sure to have enough, as millions of people visit Gujarat during that time.  The Kite Festival, known as Uttarayan in Hindi, celebrates the end of winter and the beginning of summer, as well as the coming harvest season, and the kites represent the spirits of the rising gods after their deep winter slumber.

Initially, kite flying was a sport of royalty and the very rich, but in recent years it has become a festival for people from all over the country and even the world, especially Japanese, Italian, British, Canadian, Brazilian, Indonesian, Australian, American, Malaysian, Singaporean, French and Chinese.

How to celebrate International Kite Day

If you are a travel lover and have the opportunity to come to Gujarat to participate in this festival on 14th January, then actually participating will be the best way to celebrate International Kite Day.  It will be an absolutely incredible experience that you will remember for a lifetime with thousands, even millions of colorful kites that will float in the air, countless delicious traditional Indian food available at both day and night, meet many new friends.

Besides the numerous food stalls and of course the kites, there are also plenty of artists performing acrobatics, so any moment will be enjoyable.  Celebrations begin at 5 a.m. and go on all day and evening, until late at night, when lamp- and candle-lit kites known as tukkals are launched, creating an unforgettable sight  in the dark sky.

However, if you can't be in Gujarat on International Kite Day, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it on your own terms.  A great way to do this is to simply buy a kite and take it to a nearby park to release.  A day in the air with a kite in hand is extremely relaxing, so you'll be able to enjoy your day anyway.  In fact, if you have young children, maybe this would be a great day to spend some great time together?  Nowadays, parents and children rarely even talk to each other, so both are preoccupied with their tech devices.  A small picnic and an afternoon outdoors may be just what you and your son or daughter need to chat, laugh together, and feel close to each other.