According to Abdul Wahid Khan Pathan, a local kite maker in Jamalpur area in Ahmedabad, making of a kite involves four to five stages-dyeing kite paper (locally known as triveni) , cutting out the shape, stiffening the kite with bamboo sticks, decorating it, and applying the finishing touches such as sticking a small piece of paper (locally known as chippa or patti) on each corner of the kite to strengthen it. Uttarayan involves three essential elements- patang (kite), firki (spool) and manjha (string coated with rice paste mixed with fine glass powder). People start preparing as early as March of the previous year, and the festive fervour is at its peak during the months of November and December. While January 14 is called Uttarayan, the next day is regarded Vasi (literally, stale). The celebrations, spread across two days-14th and 15th of January-primarily revolve around kite flying. ‘Uttara’ means north and uttarayan is defined as the day when the sun begins its northward journey marking the end of winter. In Gujarat, it is celebrated as Uttarayan, also known as the ‘festival of kites’. It signifies the onset of the harvest season, an auspicious time of the year throughout India. According to the Hindu calendar, Makar Sankranti marks the sun’s transition from the tropic of cancer to the tropic of capricorn ( makara).
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