Kite Flying in India

When I went to rajasthan there was a time of kite flying.I found it very interesting .I was very keen knowing about this art so I ask people .They were very excited and told me some knowledge and history about this art . Kite flying or Patang Baazi is a cultural sport in Rajasthan. Kite flying is mostly done on the Basant Panchami and Makar Sankranti.

In Delhi kites are flown on the Independence day of India. However, Kites can be flown any time throughout the year. It is a fun sport for all times. Some say the history of Kites dates back to the days of Mahabharat. Kites were not only used in receiving messages but also measuring distances in war times.'

The kite is called a Patang and the string with which it is flown is called 'Dor in Haryana. While in Punjab they are called Guddi and Manjha respectively. The wood and bamboo roll on which the string is wound is called a 'Hujka', and in Punjabi it is called a 'Charkhadi'. The kites are given different names depending upon the color combination and design.

Kites have been objects of interest and fascination to people throughout the world for at least 2000 years. Some people think that kites may have been invented even earlier, suggesting that kites were being flown in China as long ago as 1000 BC. Unless new information comes to light, we have no real way of determining when they were invented, who invented them, or even which country they were first used in.

Kites are normally made from light and quite fragile materials, and we have very few actual examples of kites that are more than two hundred years old. Unlike other artifacts such as pots and stone or metal tools, almost everything used to make a kite could rot, or be burnt.

Archeologists find out much of what they know about a culture from sources such as rubbish tips. Kites would not last long in this sort of environment. As we don't have the actual kites, we have to rely on traditions, legends, illustrations and documents to chart the historical development of kites.Manjha Fighting Techniques -when i asked some people

Pecha is the Indian word used for a kite fight, or Tangle as they refer to it. There are two techniques used in Pechas with Indian fighters flying on Manjha (glass coated line).One is PULL, the other RELEASE.

The Pull is usually favored when flying with the smaller fighters because they are lighter and more maneuverable. The kite is flown to a certain distance in the sky, between 200 to 1000 feet, and usually ahead of the other fighter kites. When ready to fight, the flier then begins pulling on his line as quickly as possible at the same time trying to cut any kite lines that are in the path of his line.

Experienced fliers can cut the opponents line from either the top or bottom, and even from the side. Release cutting, letting out as much line as possible, is used more often when flying the larger fighter kites. This is where the true art of Fighting comes into the picture. Fighters are flown long distances, well over 3,000 feet. The flier needs to keep the kite stable so that it can take out more line. At this long distance, fliers may not be able to see their kites, and have to rely on the vibrations of the line to help direct them.

With the larger kites, there are usually two people involved in the flying of an individual kite, and both are equally busy. While one person flies the kite, and keeps it steady, the other holds the spool and is responsible for the line, making sure that there is a sufficient flow of line for the kite.

The kite that can release more line quickly, usually has the advantage over the other fighters.