Makar Sankranti Celebration in Jaipur – About The Kite Festival Jaipur 2026

Kite Festival Jaipur, or the Makar Sankranti, is celebrated all over India but has a special place in Jaipur’s festival calendar. Makar Sankranti is one of the biggest festivals in Jaipur. Let’s talk about the Kite Festival of Jaipur in the year 2026.

Kite Festival Jaipur – Makar Sankranti

When Sun transits into Makara or Capricorn from Cancer or Dhanu Rashi, the festival of Makar Sankranti is celebrated. The sun is the life source for all living beings, and Hindus worship the Sun God.

When is Makar Sankranti in 2026?

Most Hindu festivals are celebrated according to the lunar calendar, but Makar Sankranti is a festival that is celebrated according to the sun’s movement. And that is why Makar Sankranti is celebrated on 14th January every year.

Makar Sankranti will be celebrated in Jaipur on 14th January 2026.

So, this also answers your question, why is Makar Sankranti celebrated on 14 January?

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Makar Sankranti is significant to Indians as it celebrates another winter crop season. The event of the transition of the Sun into Makara Rashi is celebrated all over India with different names.

In Assam, it is named Magh Bihu; in Tamil Nadu, it is called Pongal. In Rajasthan and the Madhya Pradesh State of India, it is celebrated and named Makara Sankranti.

Kite Festival Jaipur 2026 – Religious Significance

The religious significance of Makar Sankranti in Jaipur: The people of Jaipur are religious and they celebrate every festival with equal faith. Makar Sankranti brings in another opportunity to worship and thank god for the blessings.

Devotees go to take a dip in the aural water springs of Galta Ji temple which is around 10 km away from Jaipur city. It is said that it washes away your bad deeds and purifies the soul. After the daily rituals, people offer grass to cows which are considered a holy animal in Indian culture.

If devotees could not go to Galta Temple they would go to any nearby temple to seek blessings and prayers. Donating to Makar Sankranti has the significance of Karma. It is said that the circle of life brings us what we give to others.

On Makar Sankranti, people donate sesame seeds & jaggery sweets, and clothes to the needy and poor. Married women in Jaipur practice a ritual in which they gift household objects to 13 other married women. It is a custom in Jaipur to invite daughters and sisters for festive meals.

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Kite Festival Jaipur – History

Makar Sankranti is a synonym for Kite flying in Jaipur. Though kite flying is practiced throughout the year, the annual event is on the 14th of January every year. As soon as Diwali celebrations are over colourful kites take over the city sky.

It is said that the King of Jaipur from 1835 to 1880, Sawai Ram Singh ll brought the art or sport of kite flying to Jaipur from Lucknow. He used to fly kites decorated with gold & silver from the City Palace of Jaipur. Anyone who would bring him back his kite was rewarded well. Since then kite flying has become popular with the general public and the trend of flying kites on Makar Sankranti came into existence. And now it is not just any recreational activity. Flying fighter kites and cutting other’s thread with glass-sharpened kite thread is a war for Jaipur City people.

People wake up even before the first sun rays reach Earth ignoring the cold weather and are up on roofs until night darkness takes over. Preparations for the daylong event of Kite Flying Jaipur start as soon as the Diwali celebrations are over.

• More than 20000 thousand people are directly or indirectly involved in the manufacturing or trading of harp threads and kites.
• And then there are sweet shops that cater to special delicacies. In recent years the festive spirit of Jaipur has taken new dimensions into the sky from the rooftops.
• Until some years ago Makar Sankranti was an annual festival of flying kites and family celebrations.
• After a day of flying kites and celebrations with festivities, it has now become a custom to fly Wish Lanterns and burst firecrackers.

Slowly it has become a local tradition and some claim that the quality of the firecracker show from the rooftops is way more beautiful on Makar Sankranti than on Diwali. As the sun sets firecrackers begin to brighten the city skies on Kite Festival Jaipur.

And thousands of flying lanterns create a pattern that is mesmerizing for everyone. The whole firecracker and flying lanterns attract young and old on the rooftops no matter how cold it is.

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Makar Sankranti Food Recipes

Traditional sweets prepared for Makar Sankranti in Jaipur are:

• Til Ke Laddu,
• Feeni,
• Gajak, and
• Pakodi

In winter the body needs extra calories and nutrition for healthy functioning. Til or sesame seeds are a rich source of iron, copper, magnesium & calcium.

Jaggery or Gud is Indian sugar made from sugarcane without harmful chemicals and is a rich energy source. Mixed using ghee they (sesame seeds & jaggery) form mouth-watering sweet balls.

Gajak is also a form of sweet made of jaggery or sugar and sesame seeds. Pakodi is made from crushed pulses mixed with spices, fried, and served hot with chutney. These all are a delicious and rich energy source for a daylong kite flying event in Jaipur.

Best place to buy Manjha and Kites – Kishanpole Bazar, Jaipur

Best Place to buy Pakodi – Jagannath Sharma Pakodi Wale

Best Place to buy Gajak and other sweets – Narayan Ji Gajak Wale

Sankranti and Kites for Marketing Campaigns

Various marketing agencies, political parties, and local administrations have adopted kites as a marketing tool for their respective agendas. They get their ideas printed on kites and these kites serve as pamphlets and reach distant places with the message. One such successful campaign was for raising awareness for Polio Eradication. Kite Festival Jaipur brings opportunities for businesses and professionals who want to advertise their products and services.

Kite Festival Jaipur – Where to celebrate Makar Sankranti in Jaipur?

Sankranti is a festival of family and friends. The walled city is the area with most of the action. There are many hotels, tour operators, and tourist guides organizing Sankranti Celebrations for the guests. The Department of Tourism, the Rajasthan Government, will also be organizing the Sankranti Festival on the Polo Ground for tourists.

Where do you celebrate the Kite Festival in Jaipur? Do you especially celebrate Makar Sankranti? Other than forwarding messages on WhatsApp, what’s your traditional way to greet Makar Sankranti to friends? Let us know all this in the comments.

FAQs about Kite Festival Jaipur

Question: Is kite flying still popular during Makar Sankranti in Jaipur?

Answer: Kite flying continues to be an important tradition during Makar Sankranti in Jaipur, especially in older residential areas and parts of the walled city. However, participation is not as widespread as it was in earlier years, largely due to changing lifestyles, urban development, and increased safety awareness.

Question: Why are fewer kites visible in the sky during Sankranti in Jaipur?

Answer: Several factors contribute to the reduced number of kites, including colder weather conditions, higher prices of kites and strings, limited free time for families, and concerns related to safety. Restrictions and awareness campaigns around sharp kite strings have also played a role in lowering overall participation.

Question: Where can tourists experience kite flying during Sankranti in Jaipur?

Answer: Kite flying in Jaipur is mainly a rooftop activity rather than a public event. Tourists often experience it by staying at heritage hotels, guesthouses, or homestays that offer rooftop access, or by observing celebrations in old city areas where kite flying is more common.

Question: How can first-time visitors celebrate Makar Sankranti in Jaipur?

Answer: First-time visitors can enjoy the festival by exploring the city early in the morning when kite flying is at its peak, sampling seasonal sweets, and observing local customs. Active participation usually happens through local connections rather than organized public celebrations.

Question: Are there any official Sankranti or kite festival events in Jaipur?

Answer: Rajasthan Tourism Department organizes the Kite Festival at Jalmahal or Polo Ground every year.  Celebrations are mostly informal and community-driven, taking place within neighborhoods and private residences across the city.

Question: What traditional foods are associated with Makar Sankranti in Jaipur?

Answer: The festival is closely associated with til-based sweets such as gajak, chikki, til laddoos, and seasonal varieties of ghewar. These items are widely available in local sweet shops during the Sankranti period and are considered an essential part of the celebration.

Question: Is kite flying during Sankranti in Jaipur safe for visitors?

Answer: It is absolutely safe to celebrate Sankranti in Jaipur. However, authorities issue advisories each year, and residents take precautions to protect pedestrians, animals, and birds. Visitors are advised to stay alert in crowded areas and avoid flying kites in unsafe locations.

Question: Does Makar Sankranti in Jaipur feel less festive compared to earlier years?

Answer: While the scale of celebrations may not match earlier decades, the cultural importance of Makar Sankranti remains strong in Jaipur. The festival continues to be observed with traditional rituals, food, and community gatherings, preserving its seasonal and cultural significance. A significant shift is observed in the celebration style. By the evening, magnificent fireworks and thousands of flying lanterns add to the beauty of the festival.