People who have grown up doing things as part of life would recall the excitement of flying the kite. There is something inherently joyful about kite flying. National Kite-Flying Day is observed every year on February 8. Historians trace kites to China and say it came to India through the Silk Route. Benjamin Franklin demonstrated the electric nature of lighting using a kite experiment. People across India, especially in Gujarat, enjoy and celebrate the festival by flying kites. Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan, or a celebration of India’s independence, kite flying has been synonymous with festivity. China, specifically the city of Weifang, is known as the world’s kite capital. Children in Gaza put a Guinness World Record of 12,350 kites in the air in an event organized by the UN. Many celebrate Kite festivals worldwide. Gujarat houses the Patang Kite Museum. Not many may know that kite flying requires a permit and is technically illegal in India without it. Of course, the authorities take a lenient view in enforcing the law. When you see a kite dancing in the sky, remember the history and cultural significance that flies with it and the feeling of freedom one feels when guiding a kite. As Napoleon Hill said, kites also teach us life lessons. As Kites rise against the wind, so must humans when they face adversity.
Kites rise to the highest point while against the wind.
Winston Churchill
People who have grown up doing things as part of life would recall the excitement of flying the kite. It has two variants, one with a tail and the other without. Made at home with whatever resources one has, old newspapers come in handy. The excitement of flying a kite remains etched in your memory. In an era dominated by screens and people engrossed in accessing online content, outdoor activities are becoming rare. Kite flying can be a very refreshing change. There is something inherently joyful about kite flying. One may recall the kite fights, with flyers engaged in aerial duels. Kite fliers, often fortifying the strings with manja, a special paste mixed with ground glass.
National Kite-Flying Day is observed every year on February 8. The observation goes back to the early 1900s. It is not just about the act of flying kites; it’s a celebration of history, science, and the great outdoors.
While the exact origin of kites is unclear, historians trace them to China. As time passed and cultural exchanges occurred, kites came to the Indian subcontinent. Buddhist missionaries from the East likely brought kites to India through the Silk Route. Ancient Indian literature has accounts of kites, the poetry of the thirteenth-century Marathi saint and poet Namadeva being one of them.
Significant moments in history are reported, like Benjamin Franklin’s kite experiment in the 1700s demonstrating the electrical nature of lightning. Meteorological research also used Kites.
Kite flying in India has deep cultural roots. Mughals turned the kite flying into a sport. Mughal paintings show the people flying kites. People across India enjoy and celebrate the festival by flying kites. Different parts of India have various times of the year dedicated to festivals centred around kite flying. Amongst them are Makar Sankranti, or Uttarayan, Independence Day. Other festivals include Basant Panchami in Punjab and Pongal in South India. It has become an age-old tradition, despite no historical evidence of why it has become.
There are Kite festivals worldover. Washington Kite Festival, Bali Kite Festival, Bristol International Kite Festival, Netherlands Kite Festival, Festival of the Winds-Sydney, Blossom Kite Festival-Washington, Bali Kite Festival, Weifang International Kite Festival-China are some of them. China, specifically the city of Weifang, is known as the world’s kite capital. Children in Gaza put a Guinness World Record of 12,350 kites in the air in an event organized by the UN. Many celebrate Kite festivals worldwide.
Gujarat is known for kite flying. It has been a regional event for several years. In 1989, it graduated into an international festival, with people from around the globe participating and showcasing their innovative kites. The participation increases yearly, and the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat attempts to enter the Guinness World Records book. With over 8 million people watching the spectacular show on the banks of the beautiful River Sabarmati, it is a spectacle one should not miss. Gujarat houses the Patang Kite Museum, with multiple panels of kites and paintings that he collected from various places worldwide.
Not many may know that kite flying requires a permit and is technically illegal in India without it. According to the Indian Aircraft Act of 1934, any machine that can “derive support in the atmosphere” (including kites) requires a permit to fly. Of course, the authorities take a lenient view in enforcing the law.
Don’t be afraid of a little opposition. Remember that the ‘kite’ of success generally rises against the wind of adversity, not with it.
Napoleon Hill
When you see a kite dancing in the sky, remember the history and cultural significance that flies with it and the feeling of freedom one feels when guiding a kite. As Napoleon Hill said, kites also teach us life lessons. As Kites rise against the wind, so must humans when they face adversity.
Toons: Reema Jaiswal
Logs: M. Sai Baba
ToonLogs
