On Sankranti, Sesame sweets and Phini continue to remain power snacks for enthusiasts amid the Kite battle; also, police have issued an advisory to public while also pleading through social media not to use Chinese manjha
As kites cover the city sky, they will hold underneath groups of friends and family staring towards sun. Turning Monday in a ‘Sun’ day, terrace gatherings will keep the city skyline flickering with festivities.
Much more than other festivals, it’s a homecoming for many families. “It’s one occasion when families of all cousins gather at our parental house in old city, from food to rituals the festival has changed little since two decades,” says Chinmay Pareek, a resident of the old city area.
Sankranti continues to preserve a tradition of food and local culture, in between rounds of kites and discussions. The ‘Sesame’ sweets and Phini continue to remain the power snacks for enthusiasts amid the Kite battle. The demand of these had sweet shops cross city decked with the items.
Til, Gud bond families
Gazak, Ladoos and Reveris of Sesame seed and Gud (jaggery) are available in various varieties at the sweet shop counters and come a little expensive this year. The rise in price is being attributed to rise in demand near the festival. The two items are traditionally known to maintain body warmth and are supposed good for winter snacks.
Greetings and Gifts
This one festival remains one without religious rituals. Celebrated beyond community and regions, in Jaipur it’s mostly about greeting family and exchanging gifts. Among these are local tradition of ‘Kalpana’. Still in practice by hundreds of families from the city it is a pack of 11 items usually gifted among relatives. While Til sweets and Phini are among the essential items, the list varies to include food items to products of household use.
Snan and Daan
Amid the kite and festivities, Sankranti also continues to hold relevance for spiritually inclined. Thousands of people from the city visit he Galta shrine in outskirts of Jaipur to take a holy dip during the day. As these men and women continue to arrive even before the wake of dawn, the temple administration and local administration have their work begin even before. In along with spiritual and body cleansing, the day is considered good for offering help to needy. The festival thus comes to extend happiness beyond one’s own family.
CITY ‘AT’ PALACE
The Kite Festival was celebrated with much enthusiasm and high spirits on Sunday on the at the City Palace. On the occasion, foreign and local tourists flew kites along with members of the Pink City Press Club and their families. They also got the opportunity to enjoy a wide array of ethnic food. The festival was organised by the Maharaja Sawai Mansingh II Museum Trust.
TWO ARRESTED
The city police arrested two men on Sunday for using banned chinese manjha in kite flying. “The arrested duo have been identified as Mubarak Ali (28) and Asif Ali (21). Three charkhi of chinese manjha have been confiscated and further action in the matter is being taken,” officials said. Notably, cops have been raiding shops in search of banned Chinese Manjha.
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