Makar Sankranti 2023: Mumbaikars bring in celebrations with kite flying, tilgul ladoos and family

For voice artist Priya Adivarekar, this is going to be her first Makar Sankranti after her marriage and one that she is excited about, especially because it holds so much importance in the Maharashtrian community for a newly married couple. She explains, "It symbolises a ‘new beginning' and the rituals, blessings act as a harbinger of unity, peace and prosperity. The celebration for a newly married Maharashtrian couple is slightly similar to their first Diwali (Padwa)." The preparations have started days in advance and are actually quite elaborate.

As a new bride celebrating the festival with her new family. Adivarekar's mother-in-law and her mother will give her a black saree along with ‘halwyache dagine' (jewellery made of sugar-coated sesame)'. "Since I personally don't wear black, I chose the next best shade - dark blue, and opted for a traditional Maharashtrian nine-yard saree. And I've always been intrigued by those sugar coated jewellery items; we got an ornament for my husband too," shares the Mumbaikar, who is also a digital content creator.

The new year brings with it a variety of winter harvest festivals around the country including Lohri in north India, Pongal in south India, and Makar Sankranti closer home in western India. While most people have enjoyed celebrating the festival over the years, the last two years of the Covid-19 pandemic have made many realise how much they miss celebrating festivals with their family and friends. It is evident from the fact that they have been muted in the last couple of years and even though they couldn't celebrate outside of their homes, they did it within their homes with family.

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For others like Adivarekar, it is an opportunity to enjoy her new beginnings and she is leaving no stone unturned to do it. So much so, she is looking after the entire plan for the day and has already finished her shopping alone for it. The elaborate celebrations will continue at her own home too. "My parents will be welcoming us, followed by a small puja, blessings from all elders, feeding tilgul ladoos and finally a feast. It's a day when the family will come together for a nice dinner as well," she adds, continuing, "We will be welcomed with gifts and I will also receive an 'Oti' (a plate that includes flowers, a blouse piece, items of shringaar and a coconut) from my mom." It will be followed by a haldi kum kum ceremony where married women will exchange sweets, apply vermillion and turmeric, and bless one another. A ritual that they couldn't do in the last two years but are happy they can do now.

While the 28-year-old doesn't usually celebrate the festival with kite flying, it is the very essence of the festival for Jay Chauhan in Charni Road. In fact, it is a tradition his family has followed for as long as he can remember. Chauhan's family has already bought their kites and threads to fly them on the day of the festival. An activity they couldn't participate in in the last two years. "Last year there was a shortage of kites and threads in shops due to fear of lockdown," shares Chauhan. This time, it is going to be different because there are a lot of grand preparations underway. "This time there is going to be music, food and drink the whole day. Since it is going to be celebrated on a weekend, the whole family will gather and be there to fly kites on the terrace," adds the merchant navy professional. In fact, they also have a competition that involves people cutting the most number of kites, apart from a game of housie to make the most of the festival. However, Chauhan says the festival is incomplete without gorging on tilgul ladoos made from sesame and jaggery.

Is no different for Rasika Pote because Makar Sankranti has always been about tilgul ladoos for her. So much so, her mother has made sure she gets to enjoy it even though she is away from home because she moved to Delhi from Mumbai in the last year. "Since childhood, Makar Sankranti has been all about tilgul ladoos and bhogi chi bhaji, which I never liked but mom would trick me into it," shares Pote, continuing, "She would only give tilgul ladoos, if I agreed to eat the bhaji."

Like every other festival in India, festivals aren't limited to the home but also extend to the neighbourhood we live in and it was quite similar with Pote. So, keeping with tradition, the 32-year-old senior producer in advertising, continues as a ritual. "As kids we would distribute tilgul ladoos in the housing society. Friends would actually say the line 'tilgul ghaya god god bola', so every time I distribute the sweet, I still say this line," concludes Pote, setting the tone for Makar Sankranti.

Read More: Makar Sankranti 2023: How this Bandra kite-maker is carrying on his family's 71-year-old legacy