Come Makar Sankranti, and many a man (and woman) who has wielded the willow or spun leather for India abandons the pitch for terrace tops and succumbs to the pull of kite-flying.
Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan is a man of many talents. It’s true that his bowling skills were what made him popular in cricketing circles, but you wouldn’t dare challenge him in kite-flying, another sport he excels at! The 35-year-old all-rounder who announced his retirement from professional cricket last week will have enough time to fly kites this Makkar Sankranti.
“We always look forward to this festival. You can say it is an extension of New Year celebrations,” the Indian cricket team’s chief selector, MSK Prasad says. “We celebrate this festival for three days — 13th, 14th and 15th January. People enjoy vegetarian dishes like pulihora, payasam, garellu, arasellu and laddoo as well as non-vegetarian dishes,” he said.
“Cock fights and kite flying, kabbadi and ball badminton competitions are also held, and thousands of people gather to watch the cock fights and kite flying,” he added. “It’s a happy time for farmers, and they display their crops for sale.”
Venkatpathy Raju, a former cricketer, is looking forward to the festivities too. “I don’t fly kites but love to watch it. A bunch of us who bond over cricket meet up, watch people flying kites and enjoy a sumptuous lunch,” he said, adding that his favourite dish is mutton biryani.
Former right-arm off-spinner Noel Dravid can’t wait for the festival to start. “I love flying kites. As children, my friends and I would gather on a terrace, play music and enjoy ‘cutting’ kites. I still love it, and every year I go to a friend’s house to celebrate Sankranti. Lots of non-vegetarian food and sweets are prepared, and, the best part is, the families of all our friends join in the celebration,” he said. “People gather on their terraces, and there’s much shouting and dancing as they enjoy flying kites. We have a kite-flying competition at which lots of kites from different countries are flown.”
Another former cricketer, Kanpur-based Rita Dey, who has played two Tests and six One-Day International matches for India, says, “When I was a child, I flew them too, but I don’t do so now." Talking of the special food made on the occasion, she said khichdi was prepared in most homes. “We eat khichdi, gazak and til chikki on this festival day,”she added.
As for spinner Pragyan Ojha, he attends a pooja on the auspicious day. “We visit a temple and once the pooja is done we enjoy the variety of prasad served. And we will fly kites for sure. Bobbatlu and pulihora are my favourites among the dishes made for this festival.”
