I never knew that people celebrate
Pongal in
Hyderabad by
flying kites. People of all age, cast and creed enjoy this moment. I was gone for shopping with my cousin and friends to old city today for
buying Kites (Patang, पतंग in Hindi) and Coated Thread for kites ( Manja in Hindi).
The price was unexpected though, ordinary kites are sold in dozen which may cost you 24 Rs (INR) to 70 Rs per dozen and special kites are sold in single which starts from 15 Rs. to 400 Rs ( more than 400 Rs for few other varieties).
Manja/ Maanja ( मंजा, مانجا ) is nothing but a coated thread for flying fighter kites, they are prepared using Sagu Dana, सागू दाना ( Tapioca), Glass Powder, Color and Natural / Artificial Adhesives. The ingredients are cooked well on stove and then applied on thread. This makes thread sharp, so that your kites stays for more time in the sky by defeating other kites. More the sharp is your Manja, more the power your kite has got. If you are defeated, your kite will no longer be yours.
More on
Manja from wikipedia
Below are few snaps from Hyderabad Old city Kites market near Charminar.
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| This one for my niece for Rs. 75 (INR) |
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| Big Charka!! That's not for sale, just to store the thread |
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| Typical Shop selling Kites in Old City Hyderabad |
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| This one for me for Rs. 30 |
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| Kite's Market near Charminar ( Active only before and After Pongal) |
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| People shopping for Kites and Manja |
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| Bigger than you imagine |
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| Crowd in the market |
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| Oh Man!! |
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We bought some Manja ( 10 Githi - 20 Rs Per Githi; 1 Githi = 45 Feet )
Githi means knot in Hindi |
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| Special Artistic Kites |
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| Glad to see such creativity |
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| New Era Charka, packed and handles detachable |
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| The Shopkeeper |
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| My Cousin Gopi Krishna |
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| Kite with 'Avatar' Graphics on it |
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