• Sunday, February 16, 2025

Kites, Kolams, and Traditions: A Makar Sankranti Celebration with These Heartwarming Books

Celebrate Makar Sankranti with delightful children's books that explore kites, kolams, and vibrant traditions, inspiring joy, creativity, and culture!
on Jan 14, 2025
Makar Sankranti Books Guide

Makar Sankranti is the most vibrant festival celebrated with a lot of fervor across the country, during which the sun enters Capricorn and heralds the onset of harvest time. It's the time of colorful kites in the sky, intricate kolams on the ground, and communities coming together to celebrate their rich cultural traditions. This time of the year is so enjoyable for children, where there would be outdoor fun, learning about different customs, and experiencing the joy of the season. What better way is there to get them acquainted with the magic of Makar Sankranti than by reading books that document the festival and its beautiful traditions? Let's delve into a list of heartwarming stories that make kites, kolams, and the spirit of Makar Sankranti come alive.

Dev & Ollie - Kite Crazy: A Magical Kite Adventure

Author: Shweta Aggarwal

One of the best ways to introduce children to the excitement of Makar Sankranti is through the book Dev & Ollie - Kite Crazy. In this story, Dev receives a special birthday gift – a brand-new kite! But there's a catch: Dev has no idea how to fly it. His grandpa promises to teach him the next day, but Dev, impatient to fly his kite, doesn’t want to wait. That’s when Ollie, Dev’s magical bedtime owl, comes to the rescue. Ollie takes Dev on a whirlwind adventure to one of the world’s largest kite festivals in India.

It's a thrilling mixture of adventure, magic, and cultural exploration all set in the most exciting kite-flying and colorful festival book. In this perfect read for kids of age 4 years and up, they'll be introduced not only to the pure joy of flying kites but will take them on a virtual trip to India and understand the depth of the traditions and festivals surrounding that country. This is an excellent story to teach children the importance of kite flying on Makar Sankranti, depicting the wonderful relationship that a child shares with his slumber friend.

Pongalo Pongal: Colors, Culture, and Fun

Author: Monisha Monikantarajan

Pongalo Pongal is a delightful book that offers more than just a glimpse into the celebration of Pongal, another important festival that coincides with Makar Sankranti. This book introduces young readers to the concept of colors, not just in the traditional sense but through the Tamil language as well. Each page is filled with vibrant illustrations and rich cultural details that make it an engaging and interactive read for children.

As kids discover the vibrant world of Pongal through this book, they also get to learn Tamil words for colors, broadening their understanding of both language and culture. The happy rhythms of the festival, the celebration of the harvest, and the coming together of families are beautifully captured in the pages of this book, making it an ideal choice for young children during Makar Sankranti. It's such a great fun way to enjoy this festival full of joyous fun while exposing small children to yet another new language and some customs.

Farmer Falgu Goes Kite Flying: A Merry Kite Fiesta

Author: Chitra Soundar

This would be the ideal choice to get an impressive story of just how great an experience it's to have as a kite-flight. In this third book in the Farmer Falgu series, we have a farmer Falgu who is leaving with his little daughter Eila for the festival of kites. Before attending the fun filled event, while preparing to have fun, an extremely strong wind blows Eila's kite to a distant unknown place, and little Eila has become quite teary-eyed; now it becomes the responsibility of Farmer Falgu to think about a creative remedy to bring her smile back.

The book is a wonderful journey of family, problem-solving, and the fun of Makar Sankranti celebrations. Farmer Falgu's innovative ways of solving problems and making his daughter smile will capture the hearts of young readers and teach them the value of perseverance and creativity. With its heartwarming message and fun storyline, this book will inspire kids to appreciate the joy of flying kites and spending time with loved ones during the festival.

Farmer Falgu Goes on a Trip: A Quiet Journey

Author: Chitra Soundar

Farmer Falgu Goes on a Trip is not in relation to Makar Sankranti, but this is a lovely story that would make for a wonderful contrast with the noisy, energetic celebrations during the festival. In the story, Farmer Falgu was bored with all the noise and activity on his farm and felt a need for some quiet time. He leaves his place seeking peace and quiet to find a resting place. During this journey, he learns a lot about silence, solitude, and the importance of taking a break when life gets too overwhelming.

This is a lovely book that explores self-care and reflection, and hence an excellent book to wind down after the excitement of Makar Sankranti. Quiet wisdom and serene illustrations create a balance for the high-energy celebrations of the festival and give young readers a chance to reflect and recharge.

Susheela's Kolams: The Art of Kolam Making

Author: Sridala Swami & Priya Kuriyan

Kolams are part and parcel of the Makar Sankranti celebrations, primarily in South India, which mark the beginning by drawing them in front of house entrances for prosperous and auspicious fortune. The book, Susheela's Kolams is a fun, engaging book to educate children on kolam-making in the Indian traditions. In the story, Susheela discovers her love for creating kolams and begins drawing them everywhere she can—on walls, on buildings, and even in the sky with the help of air force pilots!

This story is not just about the beauty of kolams but also about creativity, persistence, and the joy of bringing art into everyday life. The children will enjoy Susheela's adventures as she spreads joy through her intricate designs. It's a great way to teach young readers about the cultural significance of kolams during Makar Sankranti, as well as the importance of creativity in festivals.

Maari – A Gift From the Skies: Celebrating Community and Nature

Author: Anusha Veluswamy

Maari-A Gift From the Skies- tells the story of Kanmani and her village, who, in the wake of a devastating heat wave that threatens to change into a drought, prepare for their festival with gusto, dusting out their folk instruments and setting up to party. The beauty of this book lies in weaving together themes such as community, nature, and resilience in depicting how people unite to celebrate even at the most adverse times.

Through the lens of Kanmani’s village, children learn about the power of unity, the importance of rituals, and the ways in which nature plays a role in traditional celebrations. This story is not only about Makar Sankranti but also about finding hope and joy in the face of adversity, making it an inspiring read for children and a great way to introduce them to the deeper cultural and environmental connections tied to the festival.

Bhoomi Learns to Draw a Kolam: An Artistic Journey

Author: Archana Narayanan

The book Bhoomi Learns to Draw a Kolam beautifully depicts the kolam-making traditional art. The protagonist Bhoomi, is drawn by the beauty of kolams her mother has drawn around their home, and she starts practicing how to draw kolams for herself. Throughout this book, the readers experience the journey Bhoomi went through learning this complex process and its associated skill, patience, and the intrinsic beauty of art.

Kolam-making is an imperative tradition during Makar Sankranti. This book will be a perfect way for children to connect with the festival through art because it will enable them to embrace their creativity and make them explore the cultural significance of kolams.

Conclusion

These heartwarming books offer a wonderful way to celebrate Makar Sankranti with your little ones, immersing them in the rich cultural traditions of the festival and its joy, flying kites, and the art of kolam-making. Be it Dev's magical adventure with Ollie, Farmer Falgu's flying kites, or Susheela's artistickolams, each book brings to life a unique aspect of the festival. Through these stories, children not only learn about the traditions of Makar Sankranti but also valuable lessons in life pertaining to family, creativity, and resilience. So, gather your little ones, grab a kite, and enjoy the festive spirit of Makar Sankranti through these delightful and engaging reads.

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