“Kai Po Che…”, “Katta Hai…”, “Wo Katta…”could be heard emanating from the rooftops, sounding almost like war cries, it was like I had taken the time machine and travelled back to my childhood days. This year on the occasion of Makar Sankranti I spotted some kites flying gloriously in the sky unchallenged and I was reminded of the times when kite flying was not just a hobby but a passion with the residents in the Hindi heartland, especially on the occasion of Sankranti 14 Jan and Independence day in and around Delhi. Alas in today’s gadget dominated world, these simple pleasures are losing out.
Flying kites is an art as also a science, you can’t just pick up one and tie the thread to it and expect kites to take to the sky by just wishing it to do so. No sir, firstly you have to identify a good kite, whose support sticks (called ‘kaman’ in local parlance) are not too rigid, just flexible enough for it to gently flow in the wind. Then the way the thread is tied to the kite has to be perfectly balanced, with two pin holes on the top cross of the support sticks and two pin holes somewhere at the three-fourth length, where knots are tied and then a triangular thread (called ‘Jota‘ here) connects these two ends. Now your kite is ready to do your bidding, provided you have done some preliminary recce, as to the wind direction and clearance, lest it get stuck in a tree or a wire immediately on soaring from the ground level.
Growing up in Dhar, a small town in MP, kite flying during the winters specially around Sankranti was something which we kids keenly looked forward to. The passionate ones would prepare the thread (Manja) weeks in advance, with glue and glass pieces (obtained from fused bulbs and tube-lights generally), to sharpen the threads so that they can vanquish the opponent’s kites in the sky followed by ‘Katta Hai’, the victorious war cry with unmatched pride. Kite flying was fun, but looting them was even more fun, as the kites which lost the duel (pench ladana), would be floating in the sky free, without any mooring and were free for picking, ‘finders-keepers’ was the accepted norm. There were groups of boys who would be armed with big bamboo sticks to catch these kites in the air and grab them.
Kite flying probably originated in China and travelled to India, although it is also mentioned in the ancient Hindu religious texts Ramayana at places. In one incident Hanuman is supposed to have recovered Bhagwan Ram’s kite from the Indralok (heaven where Indra and the Devtas reside). During the Mughal period kite flying was pursued as a sport by the rich and nobility. The most famous kite flying incident in the scientific domain, of course, was in USA when Benjamin Franklin’s experimented in 1752, when he flew a silk kite with a metal key in the rains to demonstrate that lightning was electricity.
In the modern era, there are International festivals organised in Gujarat and Telangana, where aficionados from all over the world come and participate displaying their unique kites and skills. Although I am not much of a kite flyer myself, but I have enjoyed doing it once in a while. Once when we were at Secunderabad, I actually flew one to demonstrate it to the kids, who have not been exposed to it at all.
We may draw our own lessons from this experience, given the right environment, a simple piece of paper also flies mighty high but it stays there only as long as it does the bidding of the flyer, as he controls its ascent, descent and height as also the way it performs in the duels, where sometimes it is given enough leeway, so that the opponent loses patience and the kite both, or sometimes going on the offensive right from the word go and taking the adversary by surprise thereby emerging a winner. While we may wax eloquent about all these life lessons about life, finally all this comes to a nought when we are asked to go ‘fly a kite’ by the boss at work as also at home. But seriously find time and enjoy this activity once in a while, re-live your childhood.
14 thoughts on “Kai Po Che”
Wah kya baat hai
Wow Sir, so well articulated. Kite flying gets a new high with your write up. As a kid while Kite flying at my Grandparents place in Dehradun, I remember having jumped over into an adjoining Haveli in the thrill of the moment just to get the prized one I cut, only to realise later that it was a 8 ft gap on the 3rd floor, while my older cousin fell down but luckily escaped with some superficial bruises. Later both were thrashed equally 😅. Nostalgia galore of an innocent bliss it was.
Warm regards and best wishes Sir
I used to give company to my cousin (Bhaiya) to help him fly kites during summer holidays. We have gone through the experience of choosing a good kite, putting kites to duel, even making our own maanja. Thank you for taking me back to my childhood Suyash sir. A very well written piece. 😊
NOSTALGIA GALORE. BACHPAN AUR TEENS KI KAHANI. KEEP WRITING.
Great read sir , the title got me mid flight this Sunday Morning and every paragraph reeled me in till the end. Your writing, as always is still sharp ( like an excellent ‘Manja’ aka Kite string) and cuts through- Just right.
May your writeups always fly high with Ma’am reeling out by your side and God sending in the good winds. Regards Karthik
Here is the refined, very short version with that addition:
I enjoyed reading your piece this relaxed Sunday morning!. While I never did master the art of kite flying, your evocative writing took me back to my childhood days when I did attempt to learn this subtle art. The way you have woven life lessons into the narrative is truly marvellous.
Very nostalgic sir
Thank you
After reading this article about kite flying and preparation of manja मजा आ गया।
Even as I never did kite-flying, I was awestruck by the physics behind their flights. Always wondered why some flew up snd up and held its trajectory while many just came crashing down
Off late hear of many sad fatalities in thekite season both in India and Pakistan caused by sharp reels
Wah! You’ve kindled fond memories of those good old days. The thrill of the phur phur sound made by the kites, the running after the ‘cut’ kite; all so very thrilling!
Interesting read
Great read Suyash,
Suyash…a great one.. When one is told to “go fly a kite” by the boss at work or at home by the sweetheart, jokes aside, there is wisdom in this humble statement and action of kite flying. In a world where tempers flare easily (पतंगें लगना) and egos get tangled like crossed strings, perhaps we should learn to let go (पतंग छोड़ना) once in a while…Awesome!!
So, find the time. Step onto a rooftop. Feel the tug of the wind. And, if only for a moment, relive your childhood.
Though late, I will still like to thank you for reminding me of the joy which one derived in flying a kite in the sun during winters.
An amazing write up, as always. Keep churning.