On January 14, Gujaratis celebrated the Uttarayan festival with fireworks, kite flying, and delicious food. Uttarayan marks the beginning of the Sun’s journey towards the north. The celebrations continue for two full days, and people fly kites, burst firecrackers at night, and cook delicious food to mark the festival. The first day is celebrated as Uttarayan, and the second day is called Basi Uttarayan.
The Skies are filled with colourful and attractive kites on the second day. People of all ages celebrate the festival. Undhiyu, a traditional spicy winter Gujarati dish, and other local sweets like Chikki and Tal Sakli are among the most popular delicacies during the festivities. People also visit the temples on this day and do charity work.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also celebrated the festival by visiting Bhagwan Jagannath Mandir.
उत्तरायण के पावन पर्व पर अहमदाबाद के प्रसिद्ध भगवान जगन्नाथ मंदिर में पूजा-अर्चना की। महाप्रभु सभी पर अपनी कृपा बनाएँ रखें।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 14, 2023
जय जगन्नाथ!
ઉત્તરાયણના શુભ અવસર પર અમદાવાદ ખાતે ભગવાન જગન્નાથ મંદિરમાં પૂજા-અર્ચના કરી.
મહાપ્રભુ સૌ પર આશીર્વાદ વરસાવે. pic.twitter.com/ENmVWckDA6
News Agency ANI also shared a video of HM Shah flying a kite enthusiastically.
#WATCH | Gujarat: Union Home Minister Amit Shah participated in the kite festival in Vejalpur, Ahmedabad today. pic.twitter.com/0YwR8sgT0r
— ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2023
The festivities also included the International Kite Festival that took place in Gir Somnath. DDO, Gir Somnath shared videos of the event.
ગીરસોમનાથ જિલ્લામાં આંતરરાષ્ટ્રીય પતંગ મહોત્સવની એક જલક. આ પતંગ મહોત્સવમાં ૧૬ દેશ અને ૦૭ રાજ્યના અંદાજે ૫૯ કરતાં વધુ પતંગબાજોએ ભાગ લીધો.@PMOIndia @CMOGuj @pkumarias @vmittra @skumar_76 @collectorgirsom @InfoGujarat pic.twitter.com/CdKiktdy7n
— DDOGirSomnath (@DdoGirsomnath) January 11, 2023
➡️જામનગર ટી.એન.એ.આઈ. લોકલ યુનિટ જામનગર દ્વારા નર્સિંગ ક્વાર્ટર ખાતે પતંગ મહોત્સવનું આયોજન કરવામાં આવ્યું.
— AIR News Gujarat (@airnews_abad) January 15, 2023
➡️નર્સિંગ સ્ટાફ માટે પતંગબાજી, મ્યુઝિક – કરાઓકે, અને સમૂહ ભોજન કાર્યક્રમ યોજવામાં આવ્યો.#AIRVideos : જગત રાવલ#Uttarayan2023 #jamnagar pic.twitter.com/lJXmPL2tjP
Twitter user Ramishivam1905 shared visuals of a Kite Auction that took place on the occasion.
ઉતરાયણ ના એક દિવસ પહેલા વડોદરા પતંગ હરાજીમાં માનવ મહેરામણ.. 🪁🪁✨#Uttarayan2023 #ઉતરાયણ pic.twitter.com/cgTTUZezlu
— ॐ ShivöhaM 🇮🇳 (@Ramishivam1905) January 13, 2023
Fireworks are also an integral part of the festivities during Uttarayan and they were once again visible across Gujarat. Instagram user Yagnang Pandya shared visuals of fireworks from Ahmedabad.
Twitter user Hardik Joshi shared multiple photos and videos of fireworks, kite flying, and festive dishes.
Happy Makar sankranti. #Ahmedabad #Uttrayan #makarsankrantispecial #MakarSankranti #Gujarat #festivevibes #festival #Undhiyu #jalebi #Food pic.twitter.com/ePEOOWVlEL
— hardik joshi (@readytofire) January 14, 2023
Twitter user Abhishek Bhalerao shared videos and photos of the traditional spicy dish Undhiyu.
https://t.co/ZE1X90i6cE Happy MakarSankranti 🪁 #Undhiyu #MakarSankranti2023 #मकर_संक्रांति pic.twitter.com/oHETkuMPyl
— Abhishek Bhalerao (@mumbaiactor_) January 15, 2023
According to the Hindu calendar, this is one of the most auspicious days of the year. The sun travels from Saggitarius to Capricorn on this day, which is why it is also celebrated as Makar (Capricorn) Sankranti in several parts of India.
