The Capri festival

Makar Sankranti is widely celebrated across the country and in different names. It is observed and as Pongal in southern India, Lodhi in the north and gudi Padua in the west of India. One sees the famous Makar Jyoti in Shabarimalay in Kerala.

The Name maker means movement. It is the time when the sun transits to the maker rashi. It is the festival of sweets, kites, harvest, and a new beginning full of joy and happiness.

I had one of the beautiful experiences of the Makar Sankrnati this year. I took a trip to one of the villages in Karnataka to have the experience of this harvest festival. There was no better way to celebrate it than to celebrate in the village where the actual harvest takes place.

The small village wore the look of a newlywed bride decked up to welcome the harvest season. Every house brightly lit with colourful lights and handmade designer pottery lamps. Bright yellow flowers decorated the entrance.

The roads decorated with huge rangolis of various designs. The paddy fields swayed with freshness. The womenfolk wore bright saris and decor themselves with the best of jewellery. Kids played on the streets beautifully dressed. The head of the family performed the pooja praying for their fields and to their cattle

Evening came; the sky seemed to have its own colour and the clouds its own colourful shapes. On closer look, they were kites flying high in the sky. Competitions held for the best kite flyer and the unique kite in the village. The kites flew free as if no one to catch them. Then, there came a dragon kite from nowhere to hit the sun kite. The sun kite seems to escape and the dragon got furious to have missed it. It chased the sun kite and was about to cut it while came along a fire kite and killed the dragon kite. What a sight it was! The entire crowd was cheering and applauding at this chase in the sky.

Not too far, I saw a small crowd gathered and witnessed the traditional hen fight. A beak to beak and a neck to neck fight. It was to prove-I am mightier than you are -beat me if you can attitude. Finally, the stronger one won.

Towards dawn, in the open ground, there was another surprise waiting- the bull chariot race. The mud pounding from the ground while the bulls pulled the chariot reminds one of the scenes from a Hindi movie. The bulls ranging towards the finish point while the riders balancing themselves to keep up the pace of the wheels are a sight to watch. The mightier, the fastest bull won, and its master beaming with a broad smile.

The day ended with breathtaking activities and a memorable one to remember for a lifetime.

While boarding the bus back to the city, I turned back and thought- Festivals truly lies in the villages of the country than the glitters of the metros. Life is here.

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All Rights reserved Lavanya M Rao

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