Uttarayan 2027 in Gujarat: Date, Kite Flying and Traditions
Uttarayan (ઉત્તરાયણ) brings families to the terrace, colourful kites to the sky and winter favourites to the dining table. The Makar Sankranti observance in this 2027 calendar falls on Friday, 15 January. Plan your family gathering, keep the kite supplies ready and leave time to enjoy the festival together.
Uttarayan and Makar Sankranti
Uttarayan is the familiar Gujarati name associated with the kite festival around Makar Sankranti. It is a solar festival, while many other festivals in the Gujarati calendar follow lunar tithis. That is why its place in January stays much more consistent than festivals such as Holi or Diwali.
For families, the day is also a chance to meet relatives and neighbours. The terrace becomes a shared space, with one person flying a kite, another handling the firki and others watching the changing sky. You can enjoy the gathering even if you have never flown a kite before.
What makes the Gujarati celebration special?
Paper kites and firkis are at the centre of the day. Flyers try to keep their kites steady and high, while calls of “Kai Po Che” are part of the lively atmosphere when a kite is cut. Children often begin with a small, light kite and help from an experienced adult.
Food is another much loved part of Uttarayan. Undhiyu, jalebi and sesame chikki are familiar favourites in Gujarati homes. Sharing a meal gives everyone a break from the terrace and makes the celebration enjoyable for relatives who prefer to stay indoors.
A simple plan for the day
Keep kites, suitable cotton string and spools ready before the gathering. Choose a terrace with a proper parapet and a clear space for people to move. Keep food and drinking water away from the flying area so that the space does not become crowded.
If you are attending an organised kite event, check the organiser’s venue and entry details separately. A family festival date and the schedule of a public kite festival are different things. Do not assume every event will take place on the same day.
Enjoy kite flying with care
Use ordinary cotton string and avoid glass coated or metal coated thread. Fly away from roads, overhead wires and places where birds gather. Never lean over a terrace edge or climb onto a tank to recover a kite. Keep young children beside an adult.
Gather loose string after flying and put it in a closed waste container. A few minutes spent clearing the terrace and nearby space helps prevent string from being left where birds, pedestrians or two wheeler riders may encounter it.
See the January 2027 Gujarati Calendar for the full month, other observances and the printable calendar.