People of Raipur have hardly shown much interest in kite flying in past, but this year Raipur’s sky has been dotted with colourful kites. Youth of the city have found sudden love for kite flying, which has increased sale at the shops of kitesellers on the occasion Makar Sankranti.
Be it a kite made of paper or Chinese cloth kite, polythene kite or transparent plastic kite, the demand has increased considerably.
One of the oldest kite sellers of the city, Shanti Golcha, owner of Moti Patang Bhandar near Budha Talab, pointed that sale of kites has increased significantly.
“Kite flying is associated with Makar Sankranti. Earlier, these kites were sold two or three days before the festival. Now, the sale begins from Dusshera and continues till the day of Makar Sankranti,” he said.
Golcha is the second generation of his family to run such business started in 1965. Similar to Golcha, Owner of Wahid Bhai Sangam Kite Centre at Edward Road of Sadar Bazaar established in 1980s, said they have to be prepared with thousands of latest designed kites after Durga Puja. “This time, not only children but elders and ladies are also showing keen interest in purchasing kites since October, he added.
Notably, the latest kite designs include quotations like Happy New Year, Happy Valentine’s Day, Acche Din Aane Wale Hain written on polythene made kites. Niranjan Pandit, a Choubey Colony resident who came to procure kites for his sons said, “I always ensure purchasing kites during the occasion of Makar Sankranti. It keeps the joy of flying kites alive.”
Meanwhile, Pankaj Nishant, a seventh standard student said paper made kites are better than Chinese kites. “Films and serials mei patang udaana dekh mujhe patang udana accha lagta hain (Watching the kite flying in films and serials, I love flying the kites),” Pankaj’s friend Sameer Barley said.
The price range of paper kites imported from Kolkata, Polythene kites from Ahmedabad and Printed Plastic kites ranges from Rs2 to 20. However, the chinese cloth kites are available from Rs100 onwards. Prices of thread reel are available from Rs20 and above as per one’s convenience.