The Sankranti weekend is finally here and there’s a different kind of buzz on the skyline when Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes on chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. Bollywood will be highly represented too with all the three Khans Shahrukh, Salman and Aamir and actresses Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif.
Wondering what we are talking about? It is the patang frenzy which engulfs Hyderabadis during Sankranti. “Kite flying binds people of all religions and ages,” states Mubeel, who has been selling kites for over 10 years now. From paper, Chinese and plastic kites in different shapes and sizes to charkha and wire manjha … the kite story has seen many changes. Mahbub Ali, one of the oldest kite makers say he has been in the job of making and selling kites all his life. “My family has been in patang karobaar and I learnt it when I was a little boy.
I do not know anything else to do,” he says.
At Saleem’s stall, there are small, cute kites and charkha for little ones. Accompanied with a whistle and jhunjhuni (rattle), a dozen comes for Rs. 40.
Valentine’s Day kitesValentine’s Day may be a month away but kite makers sure know how to attract the young crowd. With ‘Happy Valentine’s Day’ kites and heart shaped symbols, the patangs promise to spread love. US President’s forthcoming visit to India during Republic Day is also a theme for kite makers as they have created kites with PM Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama to display the bilateral relations between India and the US.
Another salesman Khaled says kite lovers love to fly their favourite hero/heroine kite. His shop sold 10,000 KCR kites. With Charminar in between, the pink kite has pictures of KCR on either side. M.A. Raoof of Patang Mahal rues that the new state formation has seen a dip in the sales of kites.
“Earlier, during this time we would not even have time to drink water as hundreds from other districts would come and buy kites in wholesale. Now, we are sitting idle.”
