Khambhat gears up for Makar Sankranti with colourful handcrafted kites

Brightly coloured kites with intricate designs are lining up shopfronts in Khambhat as the town gears up for the Makar Sankranti festival. Buyers from across Gujarat are arriving in large numbers to stock up ahead of the annual kite-flying celebration.

Located in Gujarat’s Anand district, Khambhat has emerged as a major hub for handcrafted kites. Renowned for their superior quality, sturdy bamboo frames and excellent flight performance, Khambhati kites are a favourite among kite enthusiasts both within the state and beyond.

Patel Kamlesh Bhai, a customer, said, "We have come from Arvalli to Khambhat to buy kites. The kites here are of very good quality, and that's why we always purchase them from Khambhat. Khambhati kites are handmade and crafted very well. They are excellent for flying, which is why we prefer to buy them from Khambhat."

Kite making in Khambhat continues to thrive as a traditional cottage industry, with skills passed down through generations. The craft supports thousands of artisans who are involved in various stages of production, from preparing frames to finishing designs.

Jhiil Kishan MalIk, a kite maker, said, "We have been making kites from my great-grandfather's time, and by God's grace, the business is doing very well. We are receiving a lot of enquiries from traders, and everything is going smoothly. First, we bring the paper, then we attach the bamboo sticks and prepare the frame. Step by step, the kite finally takes shape.: We make around 1,000 to 2,000 kites in a day."

Another kite maker, Raju Bhai, explained that "Khambhati kites have been popular since the era of the Nawabs.”

"They are quite famous. That is why people in Khambhat kites are the people's first choice,” he added. 

He continued, saying, “I have been involved in this kite business since my grandfather’s time. First, my grandfather did this work, then my father continued it, and now I am carrying it forward along with my brothers. If we include both big and small artisans, nearly one crore kites are manufactured in Khambhat."

Makar Sankranti, celebrated every year on January 14, marks the sun’s apparent northward journey after the winter solstice, a transition known as Uttarayana. The festival is traditionally welcomed with vibrant kite-flying celebrations across Gujarat.