Caution to curb Kaipo che fun in Gujarat

AHMEDABAD: The chorus of ‘Kaipo che!’ and screeching of horns will be somewhat subdued this Uttarayan because of Covid-spurred curbs on gatherings and kite-flying. Pol-dwellers have restricted entry into terraces; only residents and their family members will be allowed in. So few outsiders will be able to celebrate Uttarayan at pols this year.
Kite-flying festivities always meant gatherings of friends and families.Huge groups savoured undhiyu and jalebi and snacked on ponk, chikki, mamra laddoos, ber and sugarcane. “I used to visit the pol with my friends or some 15-20 of us used to gather on the terrace and enjoy flying kites and devouring delicacies,” said Milan Parikh, a Jodhpur resident. “However, this time, it will be a muted celebration due to the pandemic and we will be mostly indoors. My son is fond of flying kites so he might step out.”
Amid the restrictions, many plan to take advantage of the long weekend and flock to nearby destinations and watering holes. This has led to hotels brimming with tourists from Gujarat.
“Resorts and heritage properties in Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh, Mount Abu and even those at Diu, Daman, Saputara, and Gir-Somnath are full,” said Manish Sharma, secretary, Travel Agents’ Federation of India (TAFI), Gujarat. Sharma added: “Uttarayan festivities involve people enjoying in groups which will not be possible due to the restrictions imposed by the government. So people are preferring to venture out.”