A harvest festival celebrated across India, Makar Sankranti is synonymous with bonfires and dances, feasting on special dishes, rituals like the holy dips, fairs, cultural events and, more than anything, kite festivals. In many parts of India, children wait to take their priced kites to the skies in the Sankranti season, and competitions are held. According to tradition, kite flying symbolises our efforts to reach out to the 'Sun God' and extend our gratitude for longer days, which starts in the month of 'Makara.' It's also a community bonding activity, and many health experts say it has many health benefits if done taking the required precautions. The festival is on till today. Here are a few of India's kite-flying hotspots. 

Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Gujarat has a long-standing, colourful kite-flying culture, and it also hosts the yearly International Kite Festival. This year, too, it had 143 participants from 47 countries. The event is held at the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad. Dumas Beach of Surat, Race Course Ground of Rajkot, Victoria Park of Bhavnagar and Chowpatty Beach of Porbandar, where Mahatma Gandhi was born, are popular kiteflying spaces in Gujarat. 

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Jodhpur and Jaipur, Rajasthan 
In Rajasthan, Makar Sankranti has the name 'Sakrat', and the festival spreads colour on all open terraces and spaces of the state. Jaipur and Jodhpur are two of Rajasthan's kite-flying hotspots. The Mehrangarh Fort of Jodhpur, a classic symbol of Rajput grandeur, and Jaipur's Hawa Mahal are key spots you shouldn't miss. 

Indore, Madhya Pradesh
The 'kaipoche' battle cry, often heard when someone cuts another kite, is heard across Madhya Pradesh's Indore in the Sankranti season. Friends, families, and more come together, enjoying the winter chill and sunshine that turns the sky into a riot of colours. The local people also distribute delicacies like 'tilgul,' which are made of jaggery and sesame, to spread sweetness during the season. Makar Sankranti wishes to have more than 100K volume on Google Trends in the past 14 hours. 

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