Kite sales soar in Gujarat ahead of Uttarayan - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Kite-makers in Gujarat are elated as their business has got a boost ahead of the festival of Uttarayan or Makar Sankranti. The colourful kites are a result of much hard work on part of the kite-makers but some of them have got a raw deal. "Popularity of kites among people has increased. But this has not brought any substantial change in our income. Our condition remains more or less the same," said Murtaza Rahman Patangwala, a kite-maker in Ahmedabad, on Saturday. The sale of kites has increased manifold with demand coming not only from different parts of the state, but also from different parts of the country. "Slowly business of kites has grown. Now the kites are being sent to other parts of Gujarat and India. My turnover has also increased," said Altaf, a kite stall owner in Ahmedabad. Kites, hugely popular with children and adults alike, pick up sales during the festival of Uttarayan, which is also known as Makar Sankranti. This festival marks the beginning of the end of winter. Over time, kite-flying has become an integral part of religious festivals.