The Hindu : Other States / Rajasthan News : All set to revive kite flying tradition

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005

Other States

Other States - Rajasthan

All set to revive kite flying tradition

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, JAN. 11. The former ruling family of Jaipur is all set to revive the age-old tradition of kite flying in the palace precincts during this "Makar Sankranti''. The Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum, situated inside the City Palace will host a kite festival from January 12 to 14 for the former subjects of the Jaipur State and the foreign tourists alike.

It is yet to be seen whether the "Patangbazi'' in the Palace this time would match anywhere the frenzied kite flying and "cutting'' activities of yore or even the kite festival introduced in Jaipur and Jodhpur a few years back-- which now has gone to Goa finally.

The kite-flying activities at the City Palace dates back to the period of the ruler Sawai Pratap Singh. There are pictures available at the Sawai Man Singh II Museum showing him attending ceremonies on the occasion of Makar Sankranti of Vikram Samvad, 1858.

Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II (1835-1880 A.D), known as an innovative prince, was a kite enthusiast as well. He initiated setting up a separate kite workshop in the City Palace along with other "karkhanas'' for experimenting on kites.

The Special Secretary of the Museum, Narendra Singh said that period found the invention of "tukal'', kites of huge size. "The Maharaja used to invite expert kite makers from Lucknow and those who made superior quality strings to fly them, from Bareli,'' Mr.Singh said. "There used to be one room in the Palace which remained full with kites and the accessories of kite flying,'' he observed.

The chroniclers of the City have noted that in case the "tukal'' was cut by another kite, horse-riders were dispatched from the Palace to fetch it. There used to be much excitement on the occasions it was recovered and brought back. The unusually huge "charkis''(wooden wheels on which the strings unwind) used during the period of Sawai Ram Singh are still on display in the Museum.

This "Makar Sankranti'' it is going to be a long rope for all those who go to the City Palace. They have been promised free kites and long strings -- and gay abandon!-- during the festival which will be formally inaugurated by the former ruler, Brigadier Maharaja Bhawani Singh.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News Update

Stories in this Section

Direct Haj flight from Rajasthan takes off

All set to revive kite flying tradition

A wetland and its worms