Til-Gul, Kites, and Care: A Sankranti Story of Family, Health, and New Beginnings
- Arvind Pawar
- Jan 10
- 4 min read
Arvind Pawar
Co-founder of Hyperlink Health
Dr. Kavitha Madhuri
Ph.D. in Gynaecological Oncology;
January in Mumbai feels like a pause — the good kind.
The mornings are cooler, the sunlight softer, and across terraces and balconies, kites rise into the sky. In homes across the city, families prepare for Makar Sankranti — exchanging til-gul, planning simple meals, and stepping into a season that symbolises renewal.
Sankranti, like Pongal, Lohri, and other harvest festivals across India, is about gratitude and new beginnings. It is also, quietly, about health — about aligning ourselves with nature, nourishment, and balance.
“Festivals remind us that caring for the body is not separate from celebrating life — it is part of it.”
This makes January a meaningful time to talk about something often postponed: preventive health, especially for women.
On a Sankranti evening in a Mumbai’s vibrant society like L&T’s Emerald Isle, a family gathers around the dining table. Plates of til-gul and chikki are passed around. Children drift in and out. Tea is poured.
Between casual conversation and laughter, the grandmother mentions something she heard earlier that day.
“January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month,” she says. “The doctor was talking about it this morning.”
The room grows momentarily quiet — not uncomfortable, just thoughtful.
“Isn’t cervical cancer something that can be prevented?” the younger woman asks.
“Yes,” the grandmother replies simply. “Most of the time, it can.”
“Sometimes, all it takes is one calm, informed conversation to shift how a family thinks about health.”
Cervical cancer affects the lower part of the uterus and is most often caused by long-term infection with certain high-risk types of the human papillomavirus (HPV).
HPV is extremely common, and in most people, the body clears it on its own.
What matters is prevention and early detection.
Doctors explain that:
HPV vaccination, when given at the right age, can significantly reduce future risk.
Regular screening — such as Pap tests or HPV tests — can detect early changes years before cancer develops.
Early stages usually have no symptoms, which is why screening is so important.
There is no urgency in the grandmother’s voice — only clarity.
“Cervical cancer is not a silent threat because it is unstoppable — it is silent because we don’t talk about it enough.”
As the conversation continues, someone reaches again for the til-gul.
Sesame seeds, jaggery, seasonal grains — traditional Sankranti foods are rich in nutrients like calcium, iron, healthy fats, and antioxidants. Celebrations happen outdoors, encouraging movement and sunlight, supporting vitamin D levels, immunity, and mood.
These customs were never accidental.
“Our festivals have always carried quiet health wisdom — we just need to listen again.”
Health, the family realises, doesn’t have to feel clinical or complicated. It can begin at the dining table.
Later that night, when the house settles, the younger woman opens her phone. Not out of fear — out of intention.
She reads about cervical screening guidelines, checks vaccination information for adolescents in the family, and makes a note to speak with a doctor. In a city like Mumbai in 2026, healthcare no longer needs to disrupt life to be effective.
With digital health tools, teleconsultations, and secure access to medical records, preventive care fits into everyday routines.
She books a consultation.
Not because something feels wrong — but because staying well feels worth planning for.
“Preventive care is not about waiting for illness. It’s about choosing continuity — for yourself and for the people who depend on you.”
This is where platforms like Hyperlink play a quiet but meaningful role.
Built by doctors and led by women, Hyperlink is designed to support real lives, real families, and real health decisions — from consultations and diagnostics to vaccination tracking and long-term wellness.
With the upcoming launch of Helix, its AI healthcare companion, families can:
Receive reminders for screenings and vaccinations
Store and access medical records securely
Coordinate care across generations
Get guidance that is clear, human, and personalised
Healthcare becomes less fragmented — and more manageable.
“Good healthcare doesn’t demand attention. It earns trust.”
As the festival winds down and kites are folded away, the family agrees on something simple and sustainable for the year ahead:
One preventive check-up per adult in 2026, including recommended cancer screenings
One meaningful health conversation each month — with children or elders — about food, movement, mental well-being, or age-appropriate vaccines
One supportive digital habit, such as using a trusted platform to track health records or set reminders
Small steps. Long-term impact.
“Health resolutions don’t need grand gestures — they need consistency.”
This January, as families across Mumbai and India celebrate Sankranti and the promise of new beginnings, we invite you to pause and reflect:
How does your family talk about health?
What makes preventive care easier — or harder — in everyday life?
Your perspective matters.
Take 3 minutes to fill the January Stories: Sankranti & Health survey
Your responses will help shape better awareness initiatives, improve digital health experiences, and support more families in choosing prevention with confidence.
Because celebrating festivals and protecting health are not separate acts — they are both expressions of care.
Learn more at: https://www.hyperlink.health/ or reach us on arvind.pawar@hyperlink.health
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