Kite-fight champions await annual contest in Pink City, rue neglect of sport

Almost vanished from the city’s skies, kites still fly strong among a close-knit group of long-time enthusiasts in Jaipur. Annual kite-fighting contests held ahead of Makar Sankranti on January 14 in the Pink City ignite a passion that participants say rivals the fervour of an India-Pakistan cricket match .

Once a source of pride and identity for Jaipur, the sport now survives largely on passion alone, with no state patronage , members of kite clubs lament. The lack of support, however, has not deterred the exponents of this niche art, a flyer's skill of making a kite dart and dive, soar majestically, or hold a poised wobble against the wind.

Ashok Vaishnav of the Pink City Kite Club Flying Association explained that competitions involve four players per team, three active competitors and one substitute. “Like cricket, there are three umpires . Two remain on the pitch, while one stands in the middle of the ground and closely watches the kite duels to make decisions.

Fliers battle from a fixed pitch measuring 15 feet by 10 feet . “Before the contest begins, a toss is held. The winner decides whether to fight the kite string from above or below, just as in cricket,” Vaishnav said.

Umpires also check the size of the kites before the match. Each team contests nine ‘pech’ (string duels) , with 15 minutes allotted for each. “If a player’s kite is cut, he loses. If neither kite is cut within the stipulated time, both players are declared out,” he added.

Kite flyer Govind Jangid said Jaipur has around 70–80 kite clubs and hundreds of competitive kite fighters. “A local-level tournament costs around Rs 3–4 lakh , while an all-India competition can cost up to Rs 10 lakh ,” he said.

Despite bringing laurels to the city, the sport and its practitioners feel neglected, blaming cricket for cornering attention, sponsorships and funds. The lack of a dedicated venue for competitions is another sore point.

Some club members said tournaments were earlier held at the Jal Mahal embankment and later at Mali Ki Kothi on Agra Road . “For several years, we have been requesting the state government to allot a place for competitions, but no one has paid attention. Associations are forced to raise funds on their own to organise tournaments,” said one member.

The city’s passion for kites runs deep, with many enthusiasts preserving them for decades as prized possessions. Raju Sardar (64) , who runs the Golden Kite Club, said he has been flying kites for 40 years and still owns some that are nearly 60 years old .

Former police officer Kamal Singh Chauhan (70) rued that the craftsmanship behind making fine kites has been lost to time.

At 93, Ahsan Haji , who runs the Steel Guide Club in Punjabi Colony, is among the city’s oldest and most passionate kite flyers. Flying kites since 1961 , his enthusiasm shows no sign of fading.