Lohri is a folk festival connected with the Duggar region and Punjab region. The day after Lohri is celebrated as Makar Sankranti.
Lohri is celebrated to express gratitude for the harvest season and to thank the Sun God for providing light as well as warmth to help all the crops grow. This harvest festival is celebrated by lighting bonfires around which people gather to offer prayers, eating a lot of festive food, dancing and collecting gifts.
This year, the market in Kapurthala has become a centre of attraction with colourful kites. Vibrant kites with images of artists like Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, Karan Aujla and Babbu Maan are in great demand.
Kites featuring children's favourite cartoon characters like Doraemon and Tom and Jerry are also on demand in the market. Additionally, kites with messages like ‘Happy Lohri’ and ‘New Year 2025’ are also available.
The price of kites in the market are ranging from Rs 2 to Rs 500. The biggest attraction in the market is the 5-foot giant kite. It is in great demand among buyers.
Customers are also buying strong strings along with kites. Kite shops are decorated in the main markets of the city including, Jaloukhana Chowk, Shalimar Bagh Road, Kayampura Bazaar, Mohalla Shergarh, Bus Stand and Seenpura.
Shopkeepers Rishi Grover, Amit Kumar, Raju, Kamal and Manjeet Singh said that small kites to big kites are available in the shops from a range of Rs 2 to Rs 200. Apart from this, thread strings are being sold in a range of Rs 20 to Rs 500. Stand of the thread string also known as Chakri is being sold in a range of Rs 50 to Rs 1000.
They said that all types of kites are available in their shops. People are buying these kites in advance for Lohri as when Lohri approaches, the number of kites in the shops decreases. Most people have bought kites in advance.