LUCKNOW Blending contemporary political buzz with Lucknow’s famed composite culture, kites featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Yogi Adityanath cast new hues across the city’s skyline during the nearly 250-year-old Jamghat festivities. the heart of the celebration remained unchanged on the ground — with both Hindu and Muslim enthusiasts buying the trending kites in bulk and coming together on rooftops for spirited ‘pench’ duels and festive gatherings While the custom ‘Modi-Yogi’ flyers redefined the visual landscape above the city.
“These kites have been ordered by Hindu as well as Muslim kite-fliers. Their demand has been considerable. “Beyond the political symbolism, Jamghat’s defining feature remains its inclusive character. This year, despite the restrictions, I have invited kite-fliers for lunch at my house. You can see kite-fliers from different communities sharing the same rooftops and competing in the same skies; Jamghat retains its distinctive place in Lucknow’s tradition of communal harmony.”
Guru Dutt, a kite-maker and owner of Guddu Kite Centre, said his unit had manufactured more than 4,000 kites carrying pictures of Modi and Yogi on special orders from customers belonging to both communities.
Kite-makers said the designs witnessed considerable demand, with thousands being produced against special orders. We have also received an order from an NGO for kites promoting the green cause campaign,” he said. Lucknow Kite Association secretary Amarnath Kaul said the spirit of togetherness remained central to Jamghat despite restrictions on kite-flying in open spaces following the high court’s directions against the use of Chinese manjha, which poses a threat to people and birds. Children from the neighbourhood have also been invited to fly kites,” he said. Fuzail, another kite flier, said: “The festival illustrates how centuries-old cultural practice continues to accommodate contemporary political and social expressions.
This year, however, Modi-Yogi-themed kites added a new visual dimension to the festivities on Tuesday (to be continued on Wednesday also).
