Arey arey arey lappet! Oye kaipoche! Arey majah aavi gayi aaje toh…
These calls are common that are heard from rooftops across city, much before Uttarayan day finally dawns. All through the fortnight, people plan and prepare sweets and buy the right ingredients for everybody's favourite, undhiyu. Surti undhiyu or matla-nu-undhiyu accompanied with masala chaas, rotla, kadhi and rice and jalebi is what Amdavadis crave for and is a part of every festive kitchen for the day. The previous night is spent buying kites and tying kinyas to get them ready for a war in the skies on
Uttarayan!
Market chock-a-block
It was bumper-to-bumper across city streets, especially in areas where you have kiosks selling kites on Uttarayan eve. Areas namely, Jamalpur, Dilli Chakla, Raipur Darwaja and Tankshal didn't have space for two feet to walk together. Saajan Shah, a kite enthusiast from Manekbaug said, "I went crazy driving my car and got stuck for nearly an hour near Raipur Darwaja. I parked my car near Ashram road and went to the market in an auto!"
No bargaining here!
Customers felt the pinch as kite prices have risen considerably and shop-keepers refused to bargain for less quantity. Hard-pressed, die-hard fans took the take option when confronted with 'take it or leave it!'
Party ahoy
Amish Tank of Vastrapur has been planning rooftop Uttarayan celebration for a long time now. "I have planned a head gear party on our rooftop this year. I stay in a penthouse so my separate roof can give me all the freedom to vent out our energies. All my friends and other invitees have been asked to wear especially wacky hats or bandannas. Besides this there are the obvious favourites - undhiyu, jalebi, fafda and loud music!"
Farsan and Sweet
Even health freaks let go off their diet on this day, as resisting delicious undhiyu and jalebi could land them into life time of repentance. While the minimum price of undhiyu per kilo is Rs160 the limit extends all the way till Rs250-300 per kg in branded sweet and farsan shops. According to Jay Gwaliya of Gwaliya sweet mart, "Last year we had prepared 1,000 kg of undhiyu and jalebi, each and felt the quantity was less. And hence this year we have prepared 1,200 kg of undhiyu and almost the same quantity of jalebis. People often take it on the same day as Uttarayan and sometimes even on vaasi Uttarayan."
