Tilgul remains central to the celebration, with families exchanging sweets made of sesame and jaggery, accompanied by the customary greeting, “tilgul ghya, goad goad bola.”“Tilgul and the phrase— tilgul ghya, goad goad bola —are about resetting relationships in the new year. The tradition began generations ago as a way to let go of bitterness and begin anew. Sesame and jaggery help keep the body warm in winter, but the words are meant to warm relationships. Even today, it reminds us to speak kindly, regardless of how the past year unfolded,” said Meera Deshpande, a resident of Karvenagar. The festival is also marked by haldi-kunku gatherings, where women dress in black and exchange gifts. Many such events are being organised within housing societies, while others are opting for food-centric celebrations that better suit the city’s increasingly compact living spaces.“We will be hosting a hurda party for residents on Makar Sankranti,” said Mahesh Pandhare, a Baner resident. “Hurda is closely associated with winter and the harvest season, and it naturally brings people together over food and conversation. In a city where open spaces for kite flying are limited, it offers a warm and inclusive way to celebrate,” he said. While festive meals and social visits form the heart of Sankranti for many, kite flying continues to be part of the tradition for some families, who head to open grounds and terraces across the city.Animal welfare groups, however, have reiterated their caution against the use of manja, including cotton strings. Discarded kite strings often get entangled in trees and electric lines, posing a serious threat to birds, which can suffer severe injuries or die while attempting to free themselves.Nachiket Utpat, director of wildlife conservation at ResQ Charitable Trust, said the organisation recorded its highest number of bird rescue calls during last year’s Makar Sankranti. “The increase reflects greater public awareness rather than a rise in incidents. More citizens are alert and contact us or the forest department when they spot a bird in distress,” he said. This heightened awareness is also influencing family choices. Sangeeta Joshi, a resident of Sadashiv Peth, said her six-year-old son decided not to fly kites this year. “We don’t usually fly kites as we are both working parents, but two years ago we visited a friend’s farmhouse where the children were allowed to hold the string, and my son was thrilled. This year, however, he understands the impact kite flying can have on birds. These issues are discussed in school, and children today are far more environmentally conscious,” she said.Over the past decade, environmentalists and civic authorities have highlighted the dangers posed by nylon and metal-coated kite strings, leading to a ban on their manufacture and sale. Despite the ban being in place since 2017, enforcement remains a challenge, with such materials continuing to be sourced illegally.
