The Art Of Flying Kites

Dashain is finally here! The rains have receded, the weather has started to cool down, the skies are clear and there is a special energy in the air. The biggest and the most significant festival of Nepal, Dashain is a time for families to come together, friends to exchange greetings, mark the triumph of good over evil through the worship of Goddess Durga, and fly kites.

Indeed, Dashain does not feel like Dashain until we see kites soaring in the sky. This scribe speaks from experience when he says that flying kites brings an immeasurable amount of joy. However, it must be acknowledged that it is hard to get these tethered toys up in the air if one is not used to it.  It requires skills to fly and control kites. But these skills can be learnt quite easily. All we need is to keep a few things in mind.

First, we need to gather our equipment. This includes a kite, spool, string long enough to take our kite high up in the air and strong enough to withstand the force of the wind and our tugging and pulling, and gloves, because the spinning of the spool can injure our palms. Regarding the string, some enthusiasts coat theirs with a mixture of glue and powdered glass (Majha in Nepali) to make them sharp for cutting other kites. 

But that may not be the priority for us beginners. For now, let us focus on learning the basics of getting our kites off the ground. We will worry about competing with other kite flyers later.

Once we have the things we need, we must then find a suitable location. In Dashain, many of us fly kites from the terraces of our homes, which is okay if it is large enough and there is no risk of us falling off. 

If that is not the case then it would be better for us to fly kites from open spaces like parks or fields that are away from roads and obstacles like power lines. The location we choose must have a gentle breeze that can take our kites into the sky but is not so windy that it pushes our kite everywhere and ends up damaging it.

Once we have everything we need and have selected an ideal location, we can then begin actually flying our kite. To get it airborne, we must hold our kite up into the wind, meaning in the direction where the wind is blowing, and let out some string. If the wind catches the kite, it will rise. If not, we will have to repeat this step. 

Once the kite starts moving towards the sky, we must then start strategically pulling and releasing the string from the spool to maintain tension on it and keep our kite moving higher.

Much of this is instinct. But practice makes perfect. As said at the beginning of this article, flying a kite is tricky and requires skill. So, we will fail a few times. We should not let that discourage us. 

Almost everything is in the tugging and releasing of the string. Once we get the hang of that, kite flying becomes a breeze, pun intended. We also have to be patient. 

Sometimes, the wind is not right. Other times, the string is too tight or loose. Kites do not immediately take off like aeroplanes. 

It can be frustrating. But if we want to learn to fly kites, we must not give up. Dashain is a 15-day festival. We do not need to master everything in one day.

We must always prioritise safety too. 

Kite flying can get intense but we must stay aware of where we are. We must not get too close to the edge of our roofs or fly kites near busy roads. We have to be mindful of the people around us and take care not to bump into them. 

If we are using glass-coated strings to bring down others’ kites, we must stay alert to not cut ourselves with them. It is never a good idea to fly near power lines as it can result in electrocution. 

It is better to lose a kite than our life and limb.

Kite flying during Dashain is a cherished tradition that brings great joy to both flyers and observers. 

Everyone doesn't need to know how to fly kites but if you want to learn, you must head out and start pushing your kite into the wind. You will get it to soar eventually and when you do, you will see your spirit rise with the kite.