Kites

While on a casual stroll a few days back, I was pleasantly surprised when a big black kite fell just ahead of me. It instantly revived memories two decades old.

As a kid I raced to the terrace to greet the first ray of dawn, with an assortment of kites and the related paraphernalia: reels fully wound with twine and maanja (coloured twine coated with powdered glass); a handful of leftover rice from the night, which served as glue for torn kites; and optionally a younger assistant, to hold the reel, while I manipulated the string.

The kites came in different shapes, sizes, and colours. The majority were, however, square shapes made of thin coloured paper with a skeleton of two bamboo reeds placed like an arrow strung on a bow. The tail was either a tassel of thin paper strips, for smaller kites, or a triangle, for bigger ones.

Sometimes the kite proved stubborn during the initial lift off, especially when there was no breeze. Like a deflated balloon, it flopped to the base after the tug, pull, and release of the string. These failed attempts were however viewed as knocks on the wind's door; those devoted to kites should learn to be patient with the wind God. And the wind relented after all, gathering the kite in its arms and carrying it higher and higher toward the clouds.

As the kite went up, I gleefully watched the uncoiling thread twirl the reel with the finger like extensions passing through my lightly clenched fists like an axle. After attaining a certain height the kite is an obedient puppet at the end of its master's string. I made it dance, swerve, and dip; dive like a perfect 10 gymnast; soar majestically like an eagle; or simply stay put in mid air.

Additionally, I participated in kite wars where the maanjas of two different kites tried to severe each other. The orphan kite then meandered down, even as a group of noisy children armed with sticks and branches ran behind to catch it. In a bid to "own my prey" I often entwined the orphaned kite's string with mine and slowly brought it down, the operation akin to spacecraft docking.