Flying colours

January 14 is the festival of Uttarayan in Gujarat, marking the end of winter, the return of the sun and the reawakening of the gods. It is also the day of the kite flying festival. Flyers hold kite fights, attempting to send competing kites crashing to the ground. They use special string, dipped in a mixture of dye, glue and ground glass, to cut their opponents’ kites from the air. I took these pictures in the Gandhi Gate district of Baroda, where the string is manufactured and wound onto big wheels known as firkees. Angus McDonald

Kites for sale in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Kite string being prepared in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Kite string being prepared in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Kites for sale in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Kites for sale in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Kites for sale in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Boys deliver kites in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Kite string on sale in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Kite string being wound in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Kite string being prepared in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Kite string Kite string on sale in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald on sale in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Kites for sale in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Kites for sale in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Kites for sale in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Two boys carry kites in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Kite string being prepared in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Kite string being prepared in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Kite string being prepared in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Kites for sale in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Kite string Kite string on sale in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald on sale in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Kite string being prepared in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Kite string being prepared in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Kite string being prepared in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Kites for sale in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

A boy delivers kites in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Kite string on sale in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald

Boys deliver kites in Baroda ahead of the Makar Sakranti kite festival. Photo by Angus McDonald