Malu kerni
Jammu: With the start of the festive season the craze for kites is increasing in the city. Unlike five years ago when there used to be a clear sky on Raksha Bandhan and Janamashtmi, one can now spot many kites flying high. Shopkeepers say the demand for the kites on these festivals is gaining momentum again. This year kite sellers had done good business on Raksha Bandhan and are expecting the same on Janmashtami.
Gagan Kumar, who sells kites, said that nearly 50-60 customers are approaching him every hour on the eve of Janmashtami. He further added that on Raksha Bandhan he had done a good business and had sold almost 5000 kites. People love to fly kites having attractive designs and pictures. He further added that people are buying kites in bulk for Janmashtmi and huge kites with attractive pictures are in high demand.
The trend of kite flying is again picking up in the city. There are new and latest designs of kites in the market especially on the eve of Janmashtmi. Kites with a trio of Indian cricketers -Sachin Tendulkar, Virendra Sehwag, and M.S Dhoni are also available in the market. There are kites which bear the picture of Bollywood stars, images of God especially Lord Krishna are in demand. This year kites with pictures of cartoon characters Chota Bhim, Krishna aur Kalia are the main attractions for children.
“I fly kites on every festival. It is fun for me. This time on Janmashtmi, I have called my friends over to my house and we will enjoy the festival together,” said Tushar Koul, a student, who bought ten kites of different designs.”I love kites and kite flying is my passion. Their cheap rates make them more affordable and thus, it’s an easy and cheap source of entertainment for we people,” he added.
In the market, a simple kite costs between Rs 10-20, and those which have prints of Indian cricketers, Bollywood stars, politicians, pictures of God are priced at Rs 40-100. A Charkhi of Manja costs Rs 120-1000. “The sale increases during festivals,” said a delighted seller. An array of designer kites soar the skyline in Jammu on Raksha Bandhan and the same is expected on Shri Krishna Janmashthami. People start flying kites early in the morning and continue until the evening. From dawn to dusk, people of all the age groups fly kites and enjoy the spirit of the day. The blue sky is enlivened by colourful and charming kites. Playing loud music while flying kite is a common sight in Jammu. Music is loud and people dance when they cut someone other’s kite. Crowded rooftops, fun-loving rivalry to outdo each other, and delicious feast are the hall-marks of the festival.
Radhika Sharma, a student said that girls and women also enjoy the festival of kites. She added, “I am going to fly kites throughout the day as it is a public holiday on Jamnashtmi in our state. The kite festival makes the sky colorful which is indeed a feast to the eyes. Flying kites high and high to reach the sky gives a feeling and satisfaction that one can fly and touch the sky as high as one wants.” “Kite flying or Patang Baazi is a cultural sport in India. It is a fun sport for all time. Preparations are made days before and we all enjoy this festival together. It also strengthens our bond of love. Kite flying is an inexpensive game and can be enjoyed alone or with number of people. I enjoy flying kites with my friends on Janmashtmi”, said Sahil Gupta.
It is worth mentioning that kite flying is not restricted to India alone but people from many other countries in Asia, also indulge in it. In our state, earlier it was a tradition to fly kites on Rakhi and Janmashtmi. People used to fly kites and many competitions were also organized. From morning to night, they fly kites. Some people are so much indulged in the act of flying kites that they even forget to have their meals. A competition begins of cutting each other’s kite by snatching maximum number of them. Many people play drums or plates to express their joy on cutting a kite and enjoy the festival by sitting on the terrace with all their preparations of music, food items eaten during fast, snacks, etc.
