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Kites and Hopes Soar on India 's Independence

By Jalees Andrabi

New Delhi (INDIA): To conquer the skies with their kites, thousands of Delhites troop to their terraces, streets and parks on the eve of Independence Day. For them, the dancing kites, flying high in the skies symbolises their feeling of freedom.

"It's a tradition, we have been flying kites from our childhood on the eve of Independence Day," says 57-year-old Manohar Lal from Delhi. "Kite flying is a unique way to celebrate, an occasion like Independence Day. Kite flying is symbolic, like the kites fly high in the skies with freedom we wish and pray same for our land," he adds.

As the shops and pavement vendors display the latest designs and shapes of colourful kites, the Delhi is all set in a festive mood in the month of August. "We sell thousands of kites in August on the occasion of Independence Day and Raksha Bandan, a Hindu festival which follows the Independence Day," says a kite seller. The markets present a festive look during the first fortnight of August. The largest Kite market, Old Delhi's Lal Kuan market dons a bridal look. Lakhs of kites are made and sold in the lanes and bylanes of the only wholesale kite market of Delhi. Though the kites are sold through out the year but this month is a boom for the sales.

"There are some 15 to 20 shops which sell kites but during this month near about 250 shops come up in the market alone," says Tarun Malhotra, a shopkeeper in Lal Kuan market. "We engage kite makers from other states who make kites to meet the demand," he adds. The price ranges from 50 paisa to 100 rupees (one can buy even 100 kites for a single dollar) for a kite.

According to the market sources estimates the kite business is worth rupee 80 million annually. The market has seen China made kites in recent years. "We import kites from China, but people prefer local kites over them," says Malhotra, pointing towards a dragon shaped 4 feet wide Chinese kite. "There price range starts from 15 to 150 rupees but come in unique shapes," he adds.

Recent years has seen a rapid change in shapes and sizes of kites. Now markets are flooded with birds shaped kites, "Superman", "Batman" compared to traditional diamond and square shapes. Kites with pictures of Bollywood actors, the India tricolour, advertisements of different local brands and messages soar high in the skies. Kite makers are now using cloth, polythene instead of traditional paper.

Kite flying often becomes kite fighting , which involves trying to cut the string of each other's kites, is the most interesting aspect of kite flying. Kite flyers use a different kind of thread to fly kites. The thread is glued and coated with powdered glass or steel to give it strength. "Now the aim is not just to fly kites but people want thrill even in flying kites," says Manish, a kite and string vendor. "People prefer to buy strongest available strings so that they don't lose the tug of war," he adds.

A cultural sport in north Indian states, kites are flown on different religious and seasonal occasions but in Delhi it is the Independence day eve that maximum number of kites kiss the skies. "Kite flying is more popular with youth, though the new generation is obsessed with hi-tech gadgets but flying kites gives them a kick," says Manohar Lal, a Delhi Resident. "They enjoy the unique way to celebrate the Independence of the land from the British rule before 60 years and want to take the country to great heights as kites," he adds.

Jalees Andrabi is a Delhi based journalist.