This I-Day, Covid-19 cuts kite sales
Independence Day is synonymous with kite flying. Colourful kites dominate Delhi’s skies, with both children and adults participating with gusto. Even if a person isn’t flying a kite, you can find them cheering from their balconies, turning the activity into a festival of sorts. However, the Covid-19 crisis has put a dampener on celebrations, which has, in turn, impacted kite sales.
Wholesalers in Lal Kuan Bazaar, Old Delhi, have seen a slump in sales. “We are unable to pay our workers. Payment
kahan se aayengi? Log corona se toh ubhre pehle,” rues Altaf Qureshi of Kallu Bhai Patang Wale. Also, the demand for kites has dipped. “Earlier, we would get about 30 people at our shop every day. But now, we see only 10 to 15 people,” shares Imran of Shabbir Bhai Patang.
The otherwise bustling lanes of Old Delhi are now devoid of cheer. Eager kite flyers would fight motorists, fruit vendors for space, and make a dash to catch a kati patang to claim victory. “Kites with tiranga and PUBG are still popular, but you’ll hardly find anyone on the streets. Purana vala mahaul nahi hai. People are confined to their homes and flying kites from their roofs,” says Ahmed of Haji Kite House.
A new kite design — a ghost on a white background — is something that has attracted people this year. “Log isi ko corona kite keh rahe hain,” shares Bablu of Bishan Chand & Sons Kite Merchants.
Statewise lockdown guidelines have also impacted the import of raw material, as wholesalers would purchase material from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. “Demand toh hai, par maal taiyyar ho ke nahi aa raha,” says Bablu, adding, “We’d source from Rampur, Bareilly, Jaipur and Kolkata, but it has been very difficult this time.” Also, many craftsmen, or kaarigars, were on leave for Raksha Bandhan and Eid, further slowing down production.
Wholesalers would get enquiries for bulk orders from across India, but retail sales were a big source of income. “The metro made it easy for people to come to us. But now that services are suspended, we are not getting many customers,” shares Sachin Gupta of Sachin Kite Centre.