It is makarsankranti to day. The day when the sun starts becoming uttarayan - shifting over to the northern hemisphere. In our family tradition is to have khichri of black urad dal,i.e., black urad dal and rice mixed. In the days of mother and grand-mother, even Shakuntala did the same - preparations of Til and gur were made, and a handful of khichdi, till laddoos, mooli, ghee and gur was given to the needy मनसने के बाद In Rajasthan, particularly Jaipur the day is celebrated as a kite festival. Everyone irrespective of age and sex is seen on roof tops flying or looting kites whole day, and dry food like churma baati punch koota pakoris til preparations are eaten on site of kite flying not to loose a minute of Sunshine. It is a festival of collective merry making of the return of warmer times to come!
Being alone, and also due to age, I watched neighbours' children running helter skelter flying or looting kites. sent me into reveries of past when we as young and later my children used do the same and me and Shakuntala had perforce to participate in trying to teach them how to fly a kite, or to snatch one cut by someone. When I was a school going boy, kite flying was not approved by parents. We would enjoy the auspices of friends to enjoy the sport. Later when my youger brothers came of that age somehow parents' attitude mellowed but still with much restriction lest we fall while only looking at kites and moving about on the roof. Inspite of all those restrictions we would sneak up. Once Virendra fell and hurt his chest. In the evening he was almost unconsciouIs. We had to tell father. Fortunately our tutor who came in the evening seeing the condition brought homeopathic medicine, which relieved him in a short time. I am reminded of how morose and unlucky I would deem myself when others had more kites than I could loot. When my son was around 5-6 years of age he saw in the neighbourhood a kite flown with a candle atop, he raised a huge tantrum, so much so that in the evening when it had become dark we had to go the kite shop and get one, but when could not fly it, we had to take him back to the kite shop for the shopwallah to fly it and hand it to him. This time in winter vacation his kite gear was used by my daughters son and daughter.
How times have changed. It is a sad day too. Jitendra passed away on this day. He was among us siblings the best sportsman, be it cricket or kite flying. May his soul get eternal peace.