Kite flying has always been part of the sporting tradition of the people in Millennium City Cuttack. The fun doubles on Makar Sankranti day when people come out in droves to get their kites soaring in the sky and participate in competitions. But the ban on the use of ‘manja’ (string coated with crushed glass used for kite flying) manufactured in China as well as India has taken some of the shine off the festival. The ban came into being after the ‘manja’ caused several fatal injuries. Once very popular, kite-fighting competitions have seen a fall in popularity and the business associated with them has also suffered.
Sunday POST interacted with a few kite traders and kite flyers who expressed their disappointment over the decline in the kite flying tradition.
Rakesh Kumar, an experienced kite flyer of Ranihat, Cuttack said, “Once kite flying ruled the Silver City, now the city has to abide by kite flying rules. Now very few kite flyers can be spotted in the city. Earlier, I used to fly kites the whole day in the company of my family members on the terrace. We used to play music and have snacks. People celebrated after snagging or cutting down a rival’s kite with their fighter kites. Kite flyers could be seen atop high-rise buildings during the competitions. But these days, there are no competitions.”
KITE FACTS:
- It is said that the kite was first made by Chinese philosophers Mozi and Lu Ban in 549 AD.
- It has been used to send a message in a rescue mission.
- Ancient and medieval Chinese sources describe kites as being used for measuring distances, testing the wind, lifting men, signalling, and communication for military operations.
- Kites were also instrumental in the research of the Wright brothers as they developed the first airplane in the late 1800s.
- In New Zealand, Anthropomorphic kites made from cloth and wood were used in religious ceremonies to send prayers to the gods.
- The tradition of kite flying is believed to have been brought to India by Chinese travellers Hiuen Tsang and Fa Hien.
- ‘Go Back Simon’ was the slogan used in protests against the Simon Commission in India during the 1920s. At that time, Indians used kites as a medium of protest. Kites with the slogan ‘Go Back Simon’ written on them were flown. Since then, kite flying has become a tradition for Indians on Independence Day.
Kite trader Sishir Nayak of Nandi Sahi said, “Apart from the ban on kite flying, the lack of open spaces has also affected kite flying and sales. We stock kites in a variety of designs and colours but there are few takers. Kite flyers are searching for nylon strings which have disappeared from the market due to the ban. We sell only cotton strings. This year, we have ordered only 4,000 pieces of kites against 10,000 that we used to order earlier.”
Forty-five-year old Babua Mohanty from Tinkonia Bagicha, Cuttack has been in the kite-making trade since his childhood. He learned the craft from his father but no longer finds the business lucrative.
He said, “Earlier, people used to fly kites throughout the day on Makar Sankranti. I used to make more than 20,000 kites on the occasion. But following the rise in casualties due to ‘manja,’ the government has banned the use of Chinese and Indian ‘manja’ and has only approved the use of simple cotton strings for flying kites which is a major reason behind the decline in the kite business in the Silver City.”
“I was good at flying kites in the competition held every year near Ganeshghat, Cuttack and won many prizes. Once I flew 26 kites at a time, but the times have changed. After working hard for a full day, I fail to earn even Rs. 200. Depending on the size, traders pay between Rs.300 and Rs.700 for 100 kites. I can make only 60 to 80 big kites a day. People are buying Chinese kites and kites from Kolkata and other cities. So there is a sharp decline in my business. This year, I made only 2,000 kites for Sankranti out which only 1,200 have been sold so far.”
Most families in the old city that make kites for a living had similar tales to narrate. A few have already switched over to other earning options.
“There is a difference between ordinary kites and professional kites in terms of shape. I can make a kite of any shape. It is a strenuous job and requires a lot of patience. However, we don’t earn enough at the end of the day,” said Mir Muzafur Ali, once popularly known as ‘Shanu, the kite maker’ of Kehsarpur in Cuttack.
“Not only has the ban on ‘manja’ affected business, the price of raw materials has increased manifold. Understandably, profits have fallen. Traders in the city prefer kites from Kolkata and Raipur, which is another reason for the closure of kite making units in the city. The market is also flooded with fancy kites made from different materials like colourful mylar and plastic sheets so there are not many takers for kites in conventional designs. More than 70 per cent of the families that were in the trade have moved on to other occupations in the last two years due to low profitability. The ban imposed by the administration on the sale of plastic has only worsened the situation. The retailers these days prefer kites from other states to our handmade paper kites,” he added.
Prakash Nandi, a kite trader of Choudhury Bazar, Cuttack said, “Kite flying is an art. It not just a matter of fun, but needs body flexibility. One needs to master the art to fly kites properly. But kite flying is no more a popular sport in the city as the young people prefer to remain glued to smartphones and computers. The ban on ‘manja’ is okay but the government should allow people to fly kites on their terrace.”
Dipak Majhi, kite and spool maker of Choudhury Bazar, Cuttack said, “We have almost stopped making the spools to fly kites. This year we are only making a small number of kites. The government has put a ban on ‘manja’ but has not offered any alternative. It should take measures to encourage the kite flying tradition which is on the verge of disappearance.”