15th august-the kite flying day!!

15th august is remembered as independence day when india became free from the colonial rule of british. it is also remembered as the day to fly kites the whole day, at least in delhi, i dont know abt other cities and states. kite flying has always been a passion for delhites. one can find the whole family on the roof cheering the player. there are exceptions to every rule, then why not this one. there are certain people as some of my friends, who spend the day in their rooms ( i dont know how) may be sticking to the idiot box.


the sky is full of paper and plastic kites no matter what time of the day is it. the kite fliers see each other as adversaries trying to bring as many kites down as possible, either by hook or by crook i.e. by using the standard method of cutting the kite or by illegal methods like using hands or "langar". even though the kites cost as less as Rs 2, we can find people arguing over them, clamoring roofs as if it is worth millions. people hoist tricolour on their roofs showing their patriotism and playing music to the full volume possible. the kite flying season starts with the month of july and ending on 15th august. one can easily find kites hovering in the sky, with frequency increasing as each day passes, the max being today.


i also get ecstatic when this day comes. though the enthusiasm has declined over the years due to some busy time schedules but still i can find my original form as soon as my first kite is in the air.i still remember those days when i would have made the necessary prepns the prior nite and wake up as early as 6'o clock and would be on roof with my kites and "charkhi". one easily forgets the regular routine work to be done after waking. there was not a single minute to be wasted, we were going for a war!!! i would then descend the stairs only during lunch time and at the end of the day, no matter how cruel the sun would be.


this time i was at my cousin's home to enjoy the moment. initially i was not in the mood of flying kites but as soon as i was on the roof with my kite the fire was back to be on top. in the process some of my "soldiers" got wounded and some got killed. overall, almost 50 kites were my victims with i losing some 25 of my men.the best performance was cutting 7 kites with 1 kite, though my previous best is 14. fingers get cut with our own weapon, the thread, the feet get tired of up and down the roof but the never dying spirit remains dauntless.
finally, i ended my day with bruised fingers and hands and my feet forcing me to go to bed as soon as possible.