Visakhapatnam: With hardly a fortnight left for Sankranthi, kite vendors in Visakhapatnam are coming up with newer designs of kites. Excitement is palpable, as kites are a staple of Sankranthi celebrations, when families gather for friendly competitions. A significant development in this regard is that authorities have banned manja – thread quoted with glass powder.The development comes after a soldier died because of manja while riding a motorcycle last year. A boy also suffered serious injuries because of the glass-quoted thread. Manja has thus been banned due to safety concerns.Vendors like Shahnawaz Ali from Peda Waltair are planning to set up stalls along the Beach Road, taking advantage of visitors on the beach who would like to fly kites in the open area.Shahnawaz Ali’s offerings include handmade Indian kites and Chinese kites. This year, he is introducing kites of various designs, including those of animated characters that appeal to children. Prices range from ₹20 for basic kites to ₹100 and above for more elaborate designs and bigger kites. The kite vendor said last year, he had sold 800 Chinese and 2,000 regular kites. This year, he is planning to stock 1,500 Chinese kites and over 2,000 normal ones, expecting a significant increase in kite sales.Another vendor Hangrid from Jaipur has already set up a stall near the Kailasagiri Ropeway. His stall features a variety of kites with animated characters designed to attract young customers.Visakhapatnam has a tradition of flying kites. Families like that of Farhana have been continuing the legacy over past five generations. From humble beginnings of paper kites made at home, they now operate workshops and open multiple stalls along the Beach Road, underlining their commitment to keeping the kite-flying tradition alive.
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