January 14 was the festival of Sankranti. It marks the beginning of the harvest and it is usually celebrated with spending time with family, a feast, and lots of kite flying. I spent the long weekend celebrating it with my friend Meghana and her family.
On Thursday morning when I woke up I heard drumming and a flute playing a tune. At first I thought I was dreaming but then I realized that there was someone playing music. I went to the front door to see if I could find a band playing but it turns out it was a man playing a flute, another man drumming, and a decorated cow. I was surprised to see them outside the gate playing music so I ran back in to get Meg’s little sister Pandu. She laughed and told me that we had to give them rice so that they would bless us or give us good luck.
Later, we all got ready to go to Meg’s grandparent’s home for lunch. When we got there I met her grandparents of her father’s side and her aunts, uncle, and cousins.
I got to watch a Telegu horror movie while I was visiting. It was a funny movie.
Afterwards we went to fly kites at one of Meg’s friends, Varun, place. The point is to cut the thread of other people’s kites without getting your thread cut. The thread has little pieces of glass in it so it’s easy to get a cut on your hands. The skies were filled with kites; and the trees, the power lines, and the ground was littered with defeated kites.
After flying kites, we went to the house of another uncle. They lived in a really pretty house and they served us delicious tea.
Then on our way home we were stuck in traffic. I felt sore because I was on the back of Meg’s moped. Plus there is so much pollution that the air is gray and feels thick. Since I ride without a helmet, my skin and hair soaks up all the pollution. By they end of the day, I was tired and filthy from the pollution.
I enjoyed Sankranti, the food was delicious, especially the little fried palak things. The next time I’m in India during Sankranti I will be sure to try flying a kite.
