Lohri and Makar Sankranti spell week-long celebrations for Raipurites

With Lohri and Makar Sankranti round the corner, Raipurites are all set to celebrate these two festivals with much pomp. The blue sky dotted with kites of various shapes, sizes and hues are a common sight across Raipur and Bhilai. Kites in a riot of colours and the familiar aroma of freshly-prepared til ladoos fill the air as Raipurites gear up for the festivities.
With others preparing to herald in Lohri celebrations with bonfires and songs of joy, Raipur Times joins in the preparations to catch up on all the pre-Lohri and Makar Sankranti fun. NaMo, Bollywood and Kalam kites fly high As the festival nears, spectacular kites will soon fly high, sporting fancy tails and attached to colourful manja. With new patterns and styles hitting the market, this time, Bollywood-themed kites and those bearing the images of India’s Missile Man, APJ Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is hot picks among youngsters.
For some, the celebrations are all about kite flying competitions with friends. Mahesh Yadav shares, “Flying a kite requires skills as one needs to ensure it glides with balance. The fun is in cutting off the competitor’s kite without having one’s own damaged. This is a tradition that we enjoy.” The most popular kites that will see takers this year include those inspired by cartoon characters like Doraemon, Spiderman and Tom and Jerry, special Chinese kites, bird-shaped ones and mini kites.
“The mini ones are ideal for beginners, children and elderly people to fly comfortably,” adds Mahesh. A Kite flying festival on the cards For the past three years, the city has been witness to a kite flying festival as part of the celebrations. This year too, Raipur will see people turning up for the festival in large numbers to indulge in a kite flying competition, to capture photographs of the colourful sky and click a couple of selfies as well; a festival only set to be bigger and better than its previous editions.
Anshul Dave, a festival organizer, shares, “Kite flying is our favorite festival. This is held to revive and keep alive the tradition. There will also be a kite-themed photography booth, a host of games and some lip-smacking fare with some fusion music.” Going a step further as compared to its previous editions, this time, the festival will see a huge ‘nagin patang’ gliding in the sky as well as a make-a-wish flying lanterns’ session.
A host of festive delicacies After all the fan fare, the next best thing part of Lohri and Makar Sankranti celebrations is the scrumptious fare. With a few days left for the festival, shopping is on in full swing for til using which the tasty and nutritious til laddoos will be prepared. Homemaker Tarla Shah says, “My mother-in-law and I make three to four types of dishes with til for the family every year. Sesame seeds, whether roasted or dried, are rich in nutrients and keep one warm as well. Even the kids love a laddoo or two, and I gladly allow them to indulge because of the health benefits they have.”
Meanwhile, Devika Singh, another housewife, loves to experiment with til during the festival. “Every year during Sankranti, I try out a new recipe with til. Last year, I prepared til and pudina parathas that were a real hit with my neighbours. I’m still thinking of what to make this time,” says Devika. Like Devika, many others will experiment with delectable dishes like til chikki, murmura chikki, til burfi and coconut burfi. Now that’s some mouth-watering fare! Lohri will also see the Punjabis being joined by other communities and feasting on sumptuous specials like, makke ki roti, and sarso ka saag, an all-time favourite.
​Daljeet Kaur, a dentistry student, says, “My mother makes sure she sends some homemade food to the hostel during Lohri every year. My friends and I particularly look forward to Lohri for this reason. As part of tradition, we will also dance round the bonfire and sing festive songs, this being a symbol of unity and the zest of life.” Other delights that will feature on the table during Lohri will include dry fruit chikki, gond and murmura laddoos and palak pakoras.