MALU SHARMA
As a part of preparations to celebrate 75th Independence Day, people in Jammu are thronging markets to purchase their favourite kites. Independence Day celebration also includes kite flying in many parts of country, including Jammu.
Markets are glowing with Tricolour, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and cartoon-printed kites. The kite market is flooded with kites with pictures of popular politicians and COVID messages.
Though kites of different shapes, presenting characters such as Doraemon, Angry Birds, Mickey Mouse and Bollywood stars are available, the new trend which is attracting youths and children is kites having WhatsApp emoticons and those designed in shape of an eagle.
On an average, a kite can be purchased for Rs 10. However, kites up to Rs 500 and more are also available in the market.
Shubam Gupta, owner of a shop, said, “The trend of buying kites has survived through this age of electronic gadgets. The craze of flying kites will always be there. Earlier, these were available for Rs 5, but now cost Rs 10 per unit. We have kites in different shapes and sizes ranging from Rs 90 to Rs 160 per 20 kites. Moreover, I request all to buy Bareilly Manja and should refrain from purchasing chinese Manja besides boycotting other chinese products. Indian Manja is good and is light on pocket too. We have ‘Bareilly Manjhas’ varying from Rs 350 to Rs 400 for 3,000 metre and Rs 600 to Rs 750 for 6,000 metre.”
Moreover, the thread of Bareilly is sharp as it is prepared by heating the thread with glass and dried in sun.
Customers wearing masks can be seen busy in selecting kites. “Patang to udaani hi hai, direct sunlight milti hai chahe CORONA hi kyu na ho, said 18-year-old Avinash Sharma who purchased 10 kites and 2 Manjas.