As Kids, We Wanted to be the Best in Kite Flying, Says Charminar MLA Zulfiqar Ali

Hyderabad: The festival of kites used to be a two-month exercise, bringing together people of all religions, said Charminar MLA Mir Zulfiqar Ali in a conversation with Deccan Chronicle, wherein he recollected the festival of Sankranti during his childhood.

“Kite shops across the city are decked up and customers have been thronging to purchase their favourites since the past week at Gulzar Houz,” said Zulfiqar Ali, urging the police to allow these shops to operate till late night until the festival.

He said that in the 1960s and 70s, he used to stay at Kokabazar in Husainialam, where kite-flying was a competitive event.

“There used to two groups, competing in what was called ‘patang jalsa’, wherein we kept a count on the number of kites each group cut. This was the best competition to exhibit our skills. With open grounds, food was cooked for everyone, from breakfast to dinner. After dark, we used to fly the ‘light patang’, of kites attached to lanterns,” he said.

Recalling his favourites, he said that each area used to specialise in a different type of kite preparation. “Kadi-kamp, which is a heavy kite, was prepared by the best craftsmen at Dhoolpet and Begum Bazaar. Gool-kamp kite, which revolves quickly, is from Gulzar Houz. We used to visit those places and buy them to be the best in kite flying,” he said.

“Taar ke Patang were used to retrieve the kites that were cut, wherein thick string was used. The kite entangles the corner thread of the cut off kite. Atthe is where the competitors engaged in the kite fighting,” he said.

He bemoaned the dipping enthusiasm for kite flying, blaming the pervasion of technology, with children and youth glued to cellphones.