As the wind howled, colorful kites of ruby red, canary yellow, and emerald green dotted the horizon. The radiant laughter of children, racing after their kites, filled the air. Parents were lost in the precious memories of their past, as they taught their own children the art of kite-flying.
This was the scene at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Atlanta on Saturday, January 17, 2009 when the Hindu festival of Uttarayan was celebrated with great fanfare. Similar was the scene at Ayala Park in Chino Hills, CA where BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Los Angeles had organized its first kite festival. It was an event enjoyed by one and all.
Uttarayan, also known as Makar Sakranti, is the day when the sun starts to travel northwards marking the decline of winter. Usually falling on January 14th, Uttarayan is associated with kite flying, particularly in Gujarat.