We used kite paper, some sequins and sketch pens. Fed up of all the sticking and drawing they went on to make some simpler ones that were done in a jiffy. I seriously doubt these will get anywhere close to the skies but the kids had fun.
While on kites I will not be true to my hometown Lucknow without telling a tiny bit about kite flying in my city. We call it ‘patang bazi’ or ‘kankauwe bazi’.
While all over India kites are flown on the festival of Makar Sankranti around 14 of January in Lucknow we do things differently, just like the twins! For us the kite flying day is the day after the festival of Diwali, sometime in October/November. The festival is known as Jamghat (literally translated it means ‘gathering’). The idea behind it is that all evil flies away along with the kites.
The entire city comes to a stand still that day. Shops are shut and so are offices. The entire population makes its way to terraces and fields brandishing their kite-flying gear for some serious action. The idea of a kite fight is to tangle the opponent’s kite in yours and then cut it off. The string plays a crucial role in this action packed drama in the skies. Known as manjha, it is coated with many layers of a paste of crushed glass mixed with a binding agent. It’s quite lethal and I well remember, for my cousins a good day at Jamghat invariably meant cut and bleeding fingers. Not that they cared one bit as they gloated about the kites they had cut and the victories they had scored. Of course the amateurs only got to hold the charkhi (or the spool) till they finally progressed to actually handling the kite.
Jamghat is said to have been initiated during the times of the Nawabs to bring together all communities of the city. The nawabs were known to be large hearted if degenerate rulers. A story goes that they used golden or silver strings so that anyone who got their kites could benefit from them. It was Nawab Wajid Ali Shah who brought in kites similar to the ones we have today.
One last word: Long long ago kites were also used to convey romantic messages. The only catch – you never could be sure who got your message! It must have resulted in plenty of intrigue I’m sure.
Linking to ABC Wednesday for the letter K. Head on over for more K posts.
I love kite flying we have been plagued recently buly no wind or enough wind but ALL the rain or storm level wind fingers crossed we get a good day soon
I love kites. I use to make kites before when I was a kid and it was fun. But I can still make kites today, the big ones.
Would you believe me if I said that I have never flown a kite? Do they fly kites or what do they say? đŸ˜‰
I was more of an indoors kind of kid, and now too only that I'm no longer a kid now!
I can believe that. We were mere spectators too till our cousin came to stay with us. It was then that we learnt the intricacies of the sport though I never could fly it even then.
Seemed like it be interesting to watch the kite fighting, interesting story tho. thanks for sharing.
It is quite interesting. Many a fight are fought for kites.
Terrific project and post♪ http://lauriekazmierczak.com/kazmierczak/
Thank you.
Thank you so much for sharing this tradition – I remember reading something similar in a book called The Kite Runner (though it was of course set in a totally different country!), and appreciated hearing some more about the background of the celebration in India. Really enjoyed this post, and glad your kids had fun making their kites (even if they never end up flying them!).
Kite Runner was set in Afghanistan but was quite similar to what we have here in India. Thanks for dropping by Laurel.
A very good post for K. I can't remember the last time I flew a kite. Must get Rishi interested and kick-start that phase again đŸ™‚
I'm sure he'll love it. It is a bit of a boy thing.
oh for sure K for kite. Kids love that. My brothers did it. I watched them.
Interesting reading about your time to fly them.
We were spectators too. I never could get the hang of it.
Flying kites is so nice !!!
That it is. Thanks for dropping by.
An interesting post on kites.Gujarat too celebrate the kite flying in big manner.Brought memories of childhood.
Thanks KP. Yes Gujarat is pretty famous for its kite flying but Lucknow is no less fun.
A most interesting story about KITES, my brother and I had kites when we were young, we didn't make them though, they were purchased from a little seaside wooden hut that sold all sorts of seaside apparel for youngster to play with.
. It was an absolute treasure trove complete with buckets and spades to build sandcastles and rubber dinghies to paddle about in the shallow sea water..
We would go to the top of the cliff and fly our kites for hours, great fun,,,
You certainly have KINDLED some fond memories for me with you story about KITES,
thank you for sharing it with us.
Best Wishes,
Di.
ABCW team.
Glad I reminded you of your childhood. I love your comments Trubes because you always share a bit of yourself here and that's really special. Thanks for dropping by.
Mary Poppins' Let's Go Fly a Kite is stuck in my head, for some reason.
ROG, ABCW
I heard that one recently and completely loved it.
Glad your kids had good time making those beautiful kites. And the bit about Lucknow kite flying festival was informative and interesting. Didn't know about that at all.
They sure had fun and more importantly they were involved and happily busy for a long time.
I did kite flying when I was a child and I remember we made our own kites too.
My ABC WEDNESDAY
Wow.. making real kites that fly must have required some amount of skill.
Good one for K. Long since I flew a kite, I am reminded of my childhood days.
Happy WW!
Childhood memories are always special, aren't they?