But let’s not blame the weather alone for the decrease in the number of kites making rounds in the Kathmandu sky. Even when the Dashain weather was at its best until last week, with clear blue sky, the sun shining ideally, fluffy white clouds forming dramatic patterns here and there, and the cool gust of wind just perfect for kite flying, we didn’t see as many kites as we used to.[break]
Bhaswor Ojha/Republica
Children came out in the open to launch their colorful kites in Buddhanagar on Saturday, as and when the weather cleared briefly during the afternoon. Kite flying has significantly decreased this year, one of the main reasons being the unfavorable weather.
Grishma Gautam, a student at the A J Wild Institute of Advanced Technology, claims unplanned urbanization of the capital to be the main reason behind the decreasing trend of flying kites.
She opines, “There used to be open spaces from where people could fly kites without having to worry about falling down. Eager children are discouraged to fly kites because flying kites from the roof of tall buildings pose risks.”
Likewise, even though some of them do try to launch their little flying paper machines from their rooftops, it isn’t long before the kites land in someone else’s roof while the kite line (thread) gets tangled somewhere, making it impossible to pull it back again.
Ajay Thapa, a resident of Buddhanagar, agrees. “I want my sons to learn kite flying. But there isn’t any open space where I can train them. Even if we fly kites from our rooftop, it gets stuck somewhere in the taller buildings and it’s frustrating. My children soon lose interest,” he sighs.
On the other hand, youth’s growing inclination towards social media and video games has also put the culture of kite flying at risk.
Spokesperson of Management Students Association of Nepal, Ujjwal Raj Paudel elucidates, “When I was small, I had no cell phone or laptop like the kids today. Outdoor games were our only means of fun, and running after chet kites was the highlight of Dashain for me. I guess young boys today are content flying kites on video games.”
Same is the opinion of Preeti Karna, a student of College of Biomedical Engineering and Applied Sciences. “People are so busy with Facebook and smart phones that they’ve forgotten how much fun kite flying can be,” she exclaims.
Dinesh Bohara, a stationery shop owner in New Baneshwar agrees with Ujjwal and Preeti. “I always keep a few dozen kites at my shop every Dashain. The kite business used to do pretty well in the past years. However, whether it’s the weather or the children who are hooked on online and video games, kite sale has decreased significantly this year,” he says.
However, Rupa Dotel, a student of Lord Buddha Education Foundation, has a different opinion. She believes that it was the school’s terminal examination that kept schoolchildren away from kites and spools.
“Most schools organize terminal examinations just before the Dashain vacation commences, and exam preparation keeps them busy. Similarly, many adults were concentrating on the EPS exam of Korea, while many others are busy campaigning for the upcoming elections,” Rupa observes.
In the same way, Bikalpa Kattel, a student at Xavier International College, claims that shortened vacation duration, which too is loaded with school/college assignments discourage youths from taking the pleasures of kite flying.
“The number of kites fluttering in the sky is decreasing everywhere in Nepal. It’s because we are supposed to complete school assignments as and when we get some free time in between the Dashain celebration,” he explains. Originally from Chitwan, Bikalpa remembers flying kites as a child. However, he prefers to ‘sit in front of the computer’ in his free time these days. “The invention of many video gaming devices has enticed people indoors,” he says.
There could be many other reasons too for the youth’s decreasing enthusiasm toward kite flying. But does it make any difference really? Why fly kites?
Anish Shah, student at the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, points, “Flying kite is more than merely a fun-filled experience; it’s a lesson. It teaches you about the virtues of hope and labor. It’s a marker for the statement that efforts can take you to phenomenal heights and I feel proud to say that I was lucky enough to achieve this height in my childhood.”
He believes that the kids’ ‘unnecessary pursuit of modernization’, and the adults’ over reaction to the minor risks involved with kite flying to be the major reasons behind the apathy kite flying culture faces today.
On a bright note, since the Dashain vacation has finally begun, most youths are eagerly waiting for the weather to clear so that they can take out their spools and launch their colorful kites.
“I’ve already purchased a new spool and treated my 2,000-meter-long line to sharpen it in order to slice opposing kites out of the sky. I’m just waiting for the weather to clear,” exclaims 23-year-old Madhav Khadka.
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