International Kite & Sweet Festival

India is a land of festivals. There are a few festivals that fall on the same day but are celebrated under different names in different parts of the country. Makar Sankranti is one of them. It’s called Bihu in Assam, Baisakhi in Punjab, Uttarayan in Gujarat and Pongal in Tamil Nadu. The festival marks the end of winter and indicates the beginning of warmer days. It also indicates the movement of the Sun into Makar Raashi (zodiac of Capricorn) and tribute is paid to Surya (Sun god) Sankranti is characterized by kites in most parts of the country. In Hyderabad, Telangana International Kite Festival is celebrated every year from the 13th to the 15th of January. The festival sees kite fliers from across the globe visit and showcase their fancy kites and kite flying skills. The skies are decked up with kites of different shapes and sizes. From animals to cartoon characters, one can see various types of kites. It’s a wonderful event that draws scores of people from all over the state. The kite festival is not only limited to kites. There are various cultural programs organized for entertainment. Stalls are set up showcasing a variety of handicrafts, and handlooms from Telangana. There’s also an International Sweet festival that was also organized last year alongside the kite festival. The festival saw home cooks from various parts of the city prepare sweets from the states they belong to. It not only empowered many women to follow their entrepreneurial passion, but it also took the visitors on a gastronomical journey.