The excitement of Makar Sankranti is in the air, and so are the kites and deadly glass coated kite threads (manja). Markets across the country – Dhoolpet Kite Market in Hyderabad, Chandni Chowk in Delhi, Kalupur Patang Bazar in Ahmedabad, Johari Bazar in Jaipur, and the famous Crawford Market and Imamwada in Mumbai are flooded with kites, manja and asaaris (manja spools). However, as the skies come alive with kites, the thin glass-coated manjas wreak havoc on the ground, injuring humans, and birds alike. The Dhoolpet Patang Bazar in Hyderabad is the main hub for the production of Krishna manja. It is the most popular kite thread across the country.
Retailers mainly from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh descend on the kite-making workshops three months before Makar Sankranti to buy kites, manja and asaaris in bulk.
There are various types of manjas (kite threads) available in the market such as Surti manja, Bareilly manja, Black panther (kala) manja, khada manja, Gun manja, and Cotton manja to name a few. The states of Chandi-garh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Mahara-shtra, Punjab, Tripura and Telangana have imposed a complete ban on the sale and use of Chinese manja (aka Tangoos manja).
Hanging by the thread
In Delhi, there was a nearly 18 times rise in the number of sales and purchases of Chinese manja and the deaths caused by it in 2022. Last month, Sameer Jadhav (37), a police constable from Mumbai died after his throat was slit by a glass-coated Chinese manja. Jadhav was riding a bike when the manja slit his throat. Two-wheeler riders are at high risk of manja cuts, especially on flyovers. Earlier in 2023, an 11-year-old boy in Nagpur died when his throat was slit by a deadly glass-coated kite string. He was walking back home from school.
The Maharashtra government prohibits the use of Chinese manja and glass-coated manja entirely. However, recently, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation claimed that nylon manja was still being sold in the grey market and online sites.
Ahmedabad is known for hosting the largest kite festivals in the world. In January 2023, over 10 people died from manja-related injuries in Gujarat, and 1,281 accidents were reported between January 14 and 15. Home Minister of Gujarat, Harsh Sanghavi, who annually participates in the state’s Kite Festival on January 14 (Makar Sankranti) has requested the public “not to use any type of Chinese manja or glass-coated nylon manja,” since it has claimed so many lives. The cause of so many deaths and injuries is not due to the cotton manja, but the deadly glass-coated nylon manja or Chinese manja.
Craft of kite-making
Farhan Ansari, owner of a shop from Imamwada, Mumbai says, “We only keep cotton threads as manja after the ban. The police inspect shops randomly and we have even written on the board that we do not sell Chinese manja.” Farhan mentions that although he does not sell Chinese manja or nylon threads, he continues to get calls from leading online sites regarding buyers’ interest in buying them.
Despite the ban on Chinese manja (Tangoos manja) and nylon threads, glass-coated manja continues to be sold in clandestine manner and via social media. The durability, sharpness, and strength of Chinese manja (nylon thread) is higher compared to cotton threads.
Some kite fliers often buy these glass-coated Chinese manjas to have a ‘cutting edge’ over their competitors. After the ban on Chinese manja, the surge in sales and purchases of glass-coated thread has soared. The powdered glass coating on manja transforms it into a lethal cutting edge.
Shopkeepers from Imamwada and Dhoolpet areas on the condition of anonymity say that glass-coated cotton manja threads are legal and they continue to sell them. The price of paper kites ranges from Rs 20 to Rs 200 depending on size and design, while plastic kites start from Rs 150 to Rs 300 for 100 pieces.
Legal Entanglement
Different state governments have imposed different penalties and punishments for anyone who is involved in the illegal buying and selling of such goods. However, violation of the norm (Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986), is a punishable offence. Kite flyers who violate the rule can face a fine up to Rs 1 Lakh or imprisonment up to five years, or both.
Farhat Ul Ain, a senior advocacy officer at PETA India says, “The best way to tackle the menace of manja is to stop its manufacture, sale and use. A Central government ban would bring about uniformity in the laws that govern the use of manja in different states. It will be easier for the authorities to enforce the prohibition and seize all injurious threads, nylon or glass-coated and even threads coated with metal powder.”
Every year during and after the Makar Sankranti festival, thousands of pigeons, crows, owls, kites and other birds get slashed, wounded, or are killed by nylon and glass-coated manja. Ingestion of small glass or metal particles leads to internal injuries as well. Birds using manja for nesting face hazards. The broken manja strings on the ground pose serious risks to sanitation workers during cleaning. Each year PETA India’s is inundated with calls about birds injured from manja cuts. Last year, PETA India and the Gujarat police seized several kilograms and over 180 spools of illegal manja worth more than Rs 36,000. Around Independence Day, after receiving complaints from PETA India, the Delhi police seized several hundred kilograms of illegal manja.
Several state governments have banned Chinese manja (aka Tangoos manja) and glass-coated nylon manja.
In Delhi, there was 18 times rise in the sale and purchase of Chinese manja and the deaths caused by it in 2022 vis-a-vis 2021.
Violation of the norm (Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986), is a punishable offence. Kite flyers who violate the rule can face a fine up to Rs 1 Lakh or imprisonment up to five years, or both.
The best way to tackle the menace of manja is to stop its manu-facture, sale and use. A Central government ban would bring about uniformity in the laws.” — Farhat Ul Ain, senior advocacy officer at PETA India
We only keep cotton thread manjas after the ban. The police inspect shops randomly and we have even written on the board that we do not sell Chinese manja.” — Farhan Ansari, owner of a shop from Imamwada, Mumbai
Emergency Number
PETA INDIA helpline number for injured birds: 9820122602
