Kite Festival in Rajasthan

14 January heralds the commencement of the Sun's journey into the Northern Hemisphere and is celebrated as Makar Sankranti in India. On this day a series of kite festival is celebrated in different parts of the country with great enthusiasm. And Jaipur is certainly no exception.

The three-day International Kite festival at Jaipur starts with an inauguration at the famous Polo Ground. The festival is divided into two sections. One is the Fighter Kite Competition and the other is the Display Flying and there are prestigious trophies to be won in both categories. Dinner is provided to the participants every evening at an exotic location.
On the final day the venue of the festival shifts to the sprawling lawns of the Umaid Bhawan Palace, the royal residence of the Maharaja of Jodhpur. The finals of the Fighter Kite Competition and the final judging of the Display Kites are followed by the prize distribution ceremony, the valedictory function, and a farewell dinner with the Maharaja. As the festival draws to an end, traditional Indian kite craftsmen prepare to return to their humdrum lives, selling handcrafted aerial art for mere pennies.