New Delhi, Friday,August August03, 12,2010 2011 Mumbai, Tuesday,
my city 13
htcity SHEILA KI JAWAANI City shopkeepers are cashing on the popularity of the song Price: R10
DORAEMON This China-made kite is a hot favourite with kids who follow the cartoon Doraemon Price: R250
PHOTO: HEMANT PADALKAR
MUNNI BADNAAM HUI Malaika Arora Khan’s fans can enjoy the day with their star kite Price: R10
Time to Bo kaataa!
MILITARY JET Due to its shape, this China-made kite will fly even if there’s no wind Price: R150
PHOTOS: ZABEEH AFAQUE
HARRY POTTER Here’s a fond memory in the form of a kite for the Harry Potter fans Price: R10
This time, Harry Potter gears up to sky-fight Sheila and Munni Vaishali Bhambri ■
vaishali.bhambri@hindustantimes.com
K FACT FILE
What: Kite Bazaar Where: Lal Kuan, Fatehpuri Chowk (Behind Jama Masjid) Chandni Chowk Special attractions: Biggest huchka/charakhi with 8,000 metre manja; smallest kite that is about 3 inches only Nearest Metro Station: Chawri Bazaar on the Yellow Line
ites this Independence Day, are not just about colour, they also have Munni, Sheila, and Harry Potter on them. Kite flying has traditionally been a major part of the Makar Sakranti and Basant celebrations in north India, however, people in Delhi and adjoining areas, fly kites to mark the Independence day celebrations. Adding their distinct touch to these celebrations are the shopkeepers at the famous Lal Kuan market in Old
The Lal Kuan Market in Old Delhi, is the ultimate shopping place for kite lovers. Here, one can find kites in different shapes and sizes, priced between R5 to R250
Delhi’s Chandni Chowk. The kite bazaar at present, has a lot to offer. From Spiderman, Batman, Munni and Sheila kites to those signifying India’s World Cup victory, you can find kites in different prints, shapes and sizes, here. Creating a buzz are the China-made kites, priced between R50 and R250. The sellers claim that these kites, made from a special material, will fly even when there’s no wind. The market also sells charakhi or huchka in different sizes, priced between R30 and R80 per spool. So, go ahead, take your pick and get flying!
Be responsible Namya Sinha ■
namya.sinha@hindustantimes.com
A
The 3-inch kite Price: R5 The biggest ‘huchka’ in the market with more than 8,000 meters of manja Price: R1,000
s you celebrate Independence Day on August 15 by flying kites, don’t forget that this popular tradition also often leads to birds getting injured and entangled in the manja (thread used for flying kites, that is coated with glass powder). Over the last one month, rescue centers have seen a phenomenal rise in the number of birds admitted with a manja injury. Most of these birds are not able to fly ever again, as their wings get severed. For some, these injuries prove fatal. “For the past two weeks, we have been getting around 25 to 30 injured birds that got entangled in the manja. We get birds such as eagles, pigeons, doves and mynah, every year,” says Dr. Vinod Kumar, a veterinarian at the Jain Bird Hospital in Chandni Chowk. While the traditional manja creates problems,
some threads being used nowadays for kite flying, are worse. They are much stronger and cause a lot more harm to the birds. “Everyday, we get 15 to 20 calls for the rescue of raptors. About 90% of these cases are regarding birds getting entangled or wounded due to the manja. The Chinese threads used these days, don’t break easily, making it impossible for the bird to break free,” says Nadeem Shehazad of Wildlife Rescue. Using a regular thread (saddi) instead of manja, is the best way to keep one’s hands as well as the birds safe of injury.
R BIRif yoDuSsee CARineE FO numbers Helpl any injured birds Hospital ■ Jain Bird 084 88 32 011-2 scue Re e lif ■ Wild 9810029698 es ■ Angel Ey 9810560230