Weather no dampener to Jaipur kite-flyers on Makar Sankranti

Jaipur, Jan 14: Inclement weather and cloudy conditions were no dampener to the spirits of kite-flyers in the state capital, which today celebrated Makar Sankranti with its sky filled by an array of colourful kites. Earlier in the day, thousands of people took holy dips at the famous Pushkar sarovar near Ajmer and at the Galtaji (pilgrimage) in Jaipur, observing the rituals of the festival.

Streets and markets in the state capital bore a deserted look as most people, mainly children, remained busy flying kites from their roof-tops amidst filmy songs in the background. There was some respite for kite-flyers and people after mid-noon with the sun playing hide and seek and providing them with some moments of sunshine, which otherwise remained elusive.

The Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation-sponsored International Kite festival at the Chitrakoot Stadium here today observed huge rush with kite-flyers from US, UK, Canada, Holland, Belgium, Singapore and Malaysia showing their skills of flying artistic kites, an official said.

Similarly, flyers from Mumbai, Mangaluru, Dahanu, Rajkot, among others, also thronged the site with their picturesque kites. The festival was inaugurated by Principal Secretary of Tourism Department S K Agarwal yesterday. A special team of doctors has been deputed at the event site as a precautionary measure, an official said.

PTI