Paper Kites of India

The passion and enthusiasm for kite fighting, as against kite flying, is what singles out India, from other kite flying nations. The skies are open and any kite in sight is fair game! Consisting of a light bamboo frame covered with smooth tissue paper, kites in India are flown from rooftops and open grounds mostly as a sport, but also at festivals, on national occasions, to mark seasonal changes, and to invoke benign weather and rich harvest(s). In India, flat fighter kites of a single or double colour are most commonly used. They are highly manoeuvrable, stable and fly in the direction they are pointing in. The fighter is basically a flat kite, but when the wind puts pressure on the face, the bow flexes in a curve. This makes the kite stable and allows it to fly easily.