KITES GO OUT OF STOCK, SELLERS RUE LOW SUPPLY
On Makar Sankranti, Old Delhi kite sellers say business is quite low
Coronavirus has cut into the business of kite sellers in Old Delhi’s Lal Kuan, the biggest wholesale hub of kites and accompaniments. But sellers say that some locals have revived their love for kite flying amid the pandemic. This Makar Sankranti, most sellers here have run out of stock, but that’s because of a major shortage of supply from other states.
Saw sales even off season earlier
Kites, manjha, and charkhi varieties from around the country were usually available from neighbouring states at one place in the Capital, that is Lal Kuan. But, kite sellers here say they have no interstate supply or buyers, which was a major source of income.
“Pehle is time pe kya aage peeche bhi hum Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra ko kites supply karte the. Par is baar koi aaya hi nahi khareedne. Some didn’t come because of corona, some didn’t come because they have no money to invest,” says Himanshu Gupta, a kite seller in this market.
No new variety due to Covid-19
Kite sales often pick up in north India starting January, and continue till April, after which they pick up momentum around Independence Day. Sachin Gupta, another kite seller at Lal Kuan, says, “We couldn’t procure new varieties of kites because the supply chain had been disrupted. Whatever we had, was sold around Independence Day last year. In fact many sold kites at higher prices last August. And no one expected a lull around Makar Sankranti... I’ve made only 10% of the usual sale.”
Mohammed Ahmed, another shopkeeper, adds, “Ab agle Independence Day se expectations hain!”
Locals queuing up
Some denizens have taken to their childhood love for kite flying, while quarantining in new normal. Mohit Saini, a Janakpuri resident, says, “Screaming ‘Kai po che’ from my terrace, every time I cut someone’s kite is so much fun! I was incredibly bored in the last few months so decided to restart flying kites. A few of my friends, also working from home, often join me now. And I usually go once in 15 days, to Lal Kuan, to buy kites.”