Stunted flight of kites in city of Taj

Agra: Shahganj-based kite seller Nizam Khan sold all of 25 kites on the eve of Makar Sankranti on Saturday. According to Khan’s son Salman, they would sell more than 500 kites, along with almost as many charkhas (wooden spool) of Manjha (threads coated with glass used to fly the kite) ten years ago.

With a reducing number of kite enthusiasts, kite flying, Khan believes, has gradually been becoming unpopular over the years and is on the verge of extinction. Tajganj-based Sajid Khan agrees. Agra’s tradition of flying kites is on the decline, he said.

“There are several factors behind the situation. Technology has crept into our lives. Now there are few open places left for people to fly kites. Kite makers, like poets, used to have patrons once. Now, a kid would rather spend an hour playing a game on his computer rather than fly a kite,” said Madan Agarwal, who has been running a seasonal kite manufacturing business for more than the last 20 years.

Shahid Iqbal, a resident of North Idgha, who is locally well-known as a kite flyer, fondly remembered his kite-flying days. Hundreds of enthusiasts would once gather near the tomb of Abdullah Bukhari, but the district administration shooed them away since the spot is in near Taj Mahal, a global tourist spot.

Following this, Kailashpuri ground near the central jail became a major place for kite flying. Things continued smoothly till 2005 till a rapid urbanisation broke it up too. Some of the only places where kids can still be seen flying kites include Idgha, Tajganj and banks of the Yamuna.

According to Iqbal, back in the 1990s, expert kite flyers would gather at places on Makar Sankranti and Basant Panchami and major tournaments would be held. Agra had a reputation of being a centre of kite fights. The last major event of kite flying was organised by the district administration at the Eklavya Sports Stadium in 2011.

“Unfortunately, a lot of people use Chinese Manjha, which is completely wrong. It has brought infamy to the sport,” Iqbal added.
Stay updated with breaking news, weather updates, bank holidays and upcoming public holidays in march.