Ahmedabad: Gujarat is giving the festival of Makar Sankranti a meaningful twist this year with Poshan Udaan 2026, a statewide campaign aimed at promoting nutrition and health awareness. Organised by the Department of Women and Child Development on January 12–13, the initiative uses the festive tradition of kite flying to highlight the importance of balanced diets, hygiene, and overall well-being among children, adolescent girls, and mothers.
Led by Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Manisha Vakil, activities are being conducted across zones, districts, projects, and Anganwadi centres under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). The programme emphasizes dietary diversity, reducing junk food consumption, preventing anaemia, improving sanitation, and ensuring safe drinking water.
Communities, including schoolchildren, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women, and local leaders, actively participated in kite-making competitions, slogan-writing contests, quizzes, sports activities, and demonstrations of nutritious winter recipes. The benefits of drumstick as a superfood and millet-based dishes under the Shree Anna campaign were also promoted.
Health interventions such as haemoglobin tests, iron and folic acid (IFA) tablet distribution, BMI check-ups, and personalised nutrition counselling were carried out for mothers and children. Beneficiaries at Anganwadi centres received colourful kites, manjha strings, and traditional nutritious foods such as chikki made from coarse grains, peanuts, sesame, and mamra.
On Makar Sankranti, these kites will soar across Gujarat’s skies carrying messages of nutrition and health, symbolically spreading awareness to the public. The government also urged citizens to avoid unsafe Chinese manjha and follow kite-flying safety precautions.
Through Poshan Udaan 2026, Gujarat celebrates the festival with colour, joy, and a strong commitment to building a healthier, more informed society
