Hundreds of kite enthusiasts are set to gather at Auckland’s Eastdale Reserve in Avondale on Saturday, January 25, 2025, for the highly anticipated Uttarayan Makar Sankranti Kite Festival.
Open from 11am to 6pm, with a rain day scheduled for January 26, the event is expected to draw visitors in the thousands.
Organised by the community group Vaishnav Parivar, the festival offers an array of attractions, including food stalls, live cultural performances, folk dances, fun rides, face painting, and a drawing competition for children.
The highlight of the day is the exciting kite battle, where competitors vie for supremacy in the skies using sharp manja strings to cut rival kites.
In addition to the competition, kites and threads will be available for purchase, allowing newcomers and seasoned participants alike to join the fun. Prizes will be awarded in various categories, adding an extra layer of excitement to the festivities.
The Uttarayan festival is deeply rooted in Indian tradition, where Makar Sankranti is celebrated annually on January 14. The day signifies the sun’s transition into Capricorn, marking the shift from winter to spring in the Hindu calendar. It is a time for joyous celebrations, feasts, and rituals, including the sharing of sweets made from sesame and the lighting of bonfires to dispel negativity.
Kite flying is the central activity of Makar Sankranti, particularly in Indian states such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh, where families and communities gather on rooftops and open fields to launch their colourful creations. The tradition symbolises lifting away grievances and bad luck, with the kite string acting as a metaphorical cord to release negativity into the sky.
The festival’s international prominence has grown over the years, with events like the International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad drawing participants from around the globe, including Malaysia, Japan, and the United States. These festivals showcase an incredible diversity of kite designs, from birds and animals to intricate mythological figures and modern artistic creations.
As Auckland gears up for this vibrant celebration, the Uttarayan Makar Sankranti Kite Festival promises to bring a day of joy, culture, and community spirit to the skies of Avondale. Whether you're competing in the kite battle or enjoying the festivities on the ground, it’s an event not to be missed.
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