Uttarayan - Kite Day

January 14th is a holiday in Western India. The holiday is called Uttarayan, in english we call it Kite Day, and celebrates the sun traveling north. I'm not too sure what that means historically but practically it means everyone takes the day off to fly kites! Every man, woman and child send kites up in to sky. Thousands of kites were everywhere and everyone has one mission; cut them down.

Clothing cords are bought up in long spools, like 1000 yards or 2000 yards, and powered glass is rubbed into them. This process makes the cord VERY abrasive and dangerous. The kites are tied with this cord and the glass enables every kite flyer with the ability to cut or be cut.

The excuting the plan of cutting down other kites is very simple. If your cord goes over another cord, you simply let go. The wind will pull kite as fast as the wind will go, towards the horizon, and away from you! This applies are very fast downward force. If your cord goes under another cord you strategy is reel the kite back to you as fast as humanly possible. The wind will keep the kite up in the sky but as you pull it back the kite will end up directly above you. Your kite string will act sword swinging up and toward you. Whoever excutes their plan the fastest will cut their opponent's kite cord and the kite will fall from the sky.

When a kite is cut the winner will scream like, well...an Indian (but like a native American after he scalps a red coat). Everyone flies their kites on roof of their apartment buildings. Since there are so many apartment buildings in such a small area, everyone is very close. The sounds of primal screams emanate from all directions.

Something to be careful of are the falling strings. Usually the kites are very far away from you when they are cut. As such, the length of the kite cord is very long. The kite is cut the string falls and lands on anything; buildings, trees, and YOU. The cord owner will reel the cord back in very fast to immediately send another kite up to the sky seeking revenge. If the cord lands on you, it will stay on you since it is almost like sandpaper. When it is reeled in, it will pull and cut at you. The experience is quite unpleasant.

For those wondering, I did cut down a kite. It was a proud moment and I did receive much praise from my flying partners. Cutting down a kite during Uttarayan in India is like tapping out a jiu jitsu black belt in Brazil. Yeah right...but that is what I tell myself. And I certainly don't think about the six other kites of mine that were cut.