Gujaratis hope kites will fly high today

CHANDIGARH: If only the weather Gods will played fair, Gujaratis in the city will celebrate Uttarayan by flying kites as in their hometown.
Waiting for the fog to clear, Gujarat Mandal secretary Jayesh Mehta, who is missing the awesome weather in his native state, said if weather did not play spoilsport, they will fly kites on Friday.
Meanwhile, people from Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal and Assam would be feasting on delicacies made of 'gur' and 'til'.
In Karnataka, Makar Sankranti is celebrated the Marathi way.
As Padmavati said, "We have a headbath a day prior to the festival. We smear kumkum and haldi on faces and married women exchange gifts."
In West Bengal, Poush Sankranti is celebrated as a harvest festival.
"We offer special prayers and cook dishes like 'pitha' ' sweet made with rice flour, coconut milk and palm jaggery, But a holy dip in Ganga sagar is not possible here," said Arun Mukherjee.
'Til' and 'gur' ladoos is a common dish for the Assamese on Bhogali Bihu which marks the end of harvesting season.
"We erect a pyramid-like structure, known as meji, using bamboo, leaves, straw and hay, around which people from the community eat the food prepared for the feast and then set it on fire the next morning. Fish curry cooked with lemon juice is a special menu during this time," said Chandana Dass.