Summary:
Makar Sankranti is synonymous with kite flying across the country, a tradition that has a 150-year-old history in Jaipur.
According to the historians, kite flying tradition in Pink City was brought from Uttar Pradesh.
Makar Sankranti is synonymous with kite flying across the country, a tradition that has a 150-year-old history in Jaipur.
According to the historians, kite flying tradition in Pink City was brought from Uttar Pradesh.
Kite flying was made popular by Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II (1835-1880 AD) who brought the tradition of kite flying from Lucknow to Jaipur and during his tenure, many kite makers from Lucknow used to visit Jaipur city.
According to the information provided by the City Palace museum in Jaipur, at the time of Sawai Ram Singh II, a special kite of big size, with the fine cloth used to be made which was called ‘tukkal’.
Instead of small thread, big charkhis with specially made strings were used to fly these enormous kites.
At the end of kites, small bells were also tucked.
Sangeeta Sharma, professor of history at Rajasthan University, said, “Maharaja was so fond of kite flying that he started a ‘Kaarkhana’ i.e.
a department in Jaipur dealing with kites.
A room in the palace was filled with tukkal i.e.
kites.