12 hours earlierAuthor: Devanshu Tiwari
On the second day of Diwali, there is loud noise in old Lucknow. These sounds are not coming from the roads but from the roofs of the house. Kites are fighting in the sky above, children are shouting loudly below…”he cut”।
There is a lot of kite flying in Lucknow on the day of Pareva i.e. Jamghat. Some people fly kites in fun, and sometimes thousands of bets are used to fight the screw. This trend of kite flying is not of today, but is 250 years old. Let us take you to the world of kites…
- Beginning with kite flying by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula in 1775.
Asaf-ud-Daula, who became the fourth Nawab of Awadh in 1775, used to fly kites from the roof of the palace.
Kishan Kashyap, an artisan who has been making kites in Lucknow for the last 25 years, says, “The Rumi Darwaza, which was called the identity of Lucknow, during the time of Nawab Wazir Asaf-ud-Daula, became the hallmark of Lucknow. Apart from building magnificent buildings, the Nawab was also fond of flying kites. He used to fly ‘jhul-jhul kite’, in which gold and silver were studded.”
He used to fly kites especially on Diwali. Whoever had a kite cut and fell in his house, his family’s Diwali expenses would go away. The one who plundered the kite used to get a reward of Rs. Kite flying was also started by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula in Awadh region. Only one thing has changed over time. Now kites are flown in Lucknow the next morning of Diwali.
- Let’s go back to the kite flying of 2022…
Kite businessman Devendra Gupta told that more than one lakh kites are sold in Lucknow on Diwali. Kite flying takes place in the oldest Lucknow.
Devendra has been running a kite and manjha shop in Lucknow since 1978. Till the year 2000, he used to retail kites, but is now a wholesaler. Devendra Gupta on Lucknow’s kite flying says, “Kite is made in more than 50 small and big factories in many areas including Yehiyaganj, Nakhas, Saadatganj, Chowk and Hussainganj of old Lucknow. Here women work in making kites in homes. Every factory produces 100 to 200 kites daily.”
3 things are very important for kite flying. First: nice kite, Second: strong thread and Third: Beautiful winch. These three things have different characteristics. The kite made in Lucknow is the best. Manjha is famous of Bareilly and Charkhi of Jaipur. Let’s know more about these 3 things…
- Start with 4 types of kites…
1. Flying kite
The hallmark of a funnel kite is its tail. The specialty of this kite is that it flies fast in the air and is specially used for screw fighting. Its price ranges from Rs 18 to Rs 25. In many places, this kite is also called tail or tail kite.
2. skimmer kite
Pawna kite is the favorite kite of kite-flyers. It is also known as a trembling kite in Lucknow colloquial language. Well cooked wood is used to make them. It is stronger than other moths. Its specialty is that it goes up easily when relaxed. It can cut kites long distances. Its price ranges from Rs 20 to Rs 140.
3. Adhi kite
The half kite is light, it is also called the kite of novice kites. These kites are flown over short distances. Its price ranges from Rs 4 to Rs 10.
4. Printed Kites
The newest variety in the world of kites is the printed kites. Children’s cartoons, political faces, flowers will be printed on these kites. Foil is mostly used in making these kites. Its price ranges from Rs 5 to Rs 8.
There are three types of Manjha
Manjha used for kite flying is made in Bareilly. Rice paste and finely ground glass are used to make it. After making Manjha, it is colored with chemicals. The kite-flyer of old Lucknow, Mohd. Iqbal says, “A good manjha is identified by the craftsman who makes it. Bareilly’s Shakir Stock Manjha, NRK Manjha and Haseen Bhai-Lalla Bhai’s Manjha sell well.
The shopkeepers of Lucknow order special Manjha from Bareilly. The demand for this manjha is highest here.
dLucknowDelhi No।”
Pulleys are sold in two ways. One – empty pulley, the other – manjha full pulley. The rate of empty winch ranges from Rs 10 to Rs 500. Whereas a full winch sells up to Rs 2000. Good kite-flyers like the Charkhi of Jaipur.
In the picture, Lucknow is at number 1, Jaipur at number 2 and Charkhi of Delhi at number 3.
Even you have come to know about 3 things that are considered to be the identity of kite-flyers. Let us now narrate the story of the old kite hawkers of Lucknow…
- Kites are worshiped on Diwali, screw fights on the day of gathering
Umesh is a good kite-flyer from old Lucknow. He has stocked more than 50 kites before the gathering.
Umesh, a resident of Lucknow’s Yehiyaganj area, says, “On Diwali, we all buy kites and worship them. On the second day, kite flying goes on from 9 am till it gets dark. There are separate kite flying clubs in Awadh. Their people are known to fly kites far and wide. They are also invited to fly kites in the kite festival in Gujarat.”
Ashiana Kite Club, Rajendra Nagar Kite Club, Daliganj Kite Club, Speed Kite Club and Alambagh Kite Club are the famous kite flying clubs of Lucknow.
‘Nothing is better than the pleasure of flying a kite after being robbed’
On the day of Jamghat, there is a gathering of kite-flyers at Gulala Ghat, Chowk, Kudiya Ghat, Yehiyaganj and Clock Tower of Lucknow. Fight a lot.
Daliganj’s kite-flyer Mohd. Shamim says, “Many people buy and fly expensive kites on the day of Jamghat. But the fun that is in flying a looted kite, it is not available by buying it. Even if the kite explodes during the robbery in our Daliganj, but in the end, whatever Even the kite is found, he is patted on the back.”
On kite flying, Shamim smiles further and says, “Whoever has the kite of Lucknow, the manjha of Bareilly, he is a sure kite-flyer.”
400 people are involved in kite business, annual turnover of 4 crores
If you want to see the old shops of kites, then come to Yehiyaganj in old Lucknow, every variety will be available.
According to the Lucknow Kite Sellers Association, some 400 people are involved in the kite business including artisans, suppliers and wholesalers. The kites made here are supplied to Bareilly, Banaras, Rae Bareli, Kanpur, Prayagraj and Jhansi.
There is also supply outside UP in MP, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra. The annual kite business here is around Rs 4 crore.
now…
- The Nawabi of Lucknow knows some interesting things related to kite flying …
The era of kite related stories ends here, finally the famous poet Nazir takes farewell from this beautiful lion of Akbarabadi…
I am kite-e-paper, the door is in his hand
Whether it is reduced here, or increased there.