Reason For Kite Flying During Makar Sankranti and Uttarayan - Why Kite Flying Is Part Of Makar Sankranti?

Kite flying is a major activity during Makar Sankranti and Uttarayan. The story of origin of Kite flying is associated with Bhagavan Sri Ram. The story happens when Bhagavan Sri Ram was a kid. Hanuman too plays an important role in the story. It is mentioned in the Bala Kanda of Ramcharitmanas.

One day during their childhood, Bhagavan Sri Ram and his brothers were playing by flying kites.

The kite of Bhagavan Sri Ram was breathtakingly beautiful and it soared into the sky. It went so high that it left earth and reached heaven.

In heaven, the kite was spotted by the wife of Jayant. Jayant was the son of Indra, the king of Devas.

She was enamored by the kite and wanted to know to whom the beautiful kite belonged. She was also puzzled as to who on earth had the power to fly a kite so high that it reached heaven.

She caught the kite and kept it with her thinking that the owner of the kite would definitely come to get it.

On earth, child Sri Ram was worried, as he could not locate his kite.

He then summoned Bal Hanuman (child Hanuman) and asked him to bring back his kite.

Pavan Putra Hanuman flew up into the sky and soon disappeared. Searching for the kite, he reached heaven and spotted the kite with Jayant’s wife.

She wanted to know to whom the kite belonged.

Hanuman told her that the kite belonged to Bhagavan Sri Ram.

She then wanted to have darshan of Bhagavan.

Hanuman went back to Sri Ram and told what had happened in heaven.

Bhagavan Sri Ram told Hanuman that she could have darshan of him in future in Chitrakoot.

When Hanuman delivered the message, she returned the kite.

This incident took place during Makar Sankranti.

From that day onwards, people started flying kites during Makar Sankranti.