Kite flying was a very popular and amusing sport in Bangalore in the 50s. This sport was enjoyed not only by children and teenagers but also by grown-up elders. In those days peKite flying ople used to rate Bangalore next to Mumbai in kite flying. Localities like Ulsoor, Shivajinagar, Fraser Town and Shoolay present Ashoknagar were well known for the sport.
Old Market near the present Russel market in Shivajinagarwas famous for kite making and special strong thread manja threads. Manja is prepared by nicely powdering glass pieces and mixing them with a paste like material taken from Kathazhai - a plant with big thorns all over. This plant is used for fencing the fields. White portion of the egg and gum crystals are added to the mixture. Of course, any colour can be added to make the manja threads attractive. Manja thus prepared smeared on white thread and allowed to dry in sun light. When completely dried, the thread will be rubbed with a piece of cloth, to make it smooth, so that it will not hurt the fingers while flying kites. The dried manja thread will be rolled on a small wooden apparatus called "Lottai".
Lottai is a very handy tool used in the sport. It is made of two roundly cut ply-wood sheets with some six holes uniformly spaced with one another. Another hole in the centre of the sheet is also made. Circular shaped wooden sticks of four to five inches length fixed to the ply-wood sheets. One more stick longer than the sticks already fixed will be fixed to the hole in the middle in such a way the ends of the stick protrude on either sides equally. Protruding portion of the lottai used for rolling the thread fast.
A person by name KARIM in old market was famous for making kites and manja threads. His kites and threads were in great demand. The kite lovers from city area used to come to him. Especially the threads prepared by him called " Karim manja".
When season reaches peak, lot of competitions will be held with bettings. The present Bangalore Football Stadium will be the venue for the competition, the place was an open play ground. All kite flyers used to arrive at the venue with loads of threads and kites. Famous Karim used to be the star attraction with heavy stakes on his kites. Kites with different colours and sizes all over the sky will be a wonderful sight.
While the competition picks-up, a group of youngsters with cycles watching the competition from Brigade Road and their job was to retrieve the "kati patang". All the actions, languages (mostly abusive), sometimes resulting in fights will be so amusing, they cannot be expressed in words.
Old Market near the present Russel market in Shivajinagarwas famous for kite making and special strong thread manja threads. Manja is prepared by nicely powdering glass pieces and mixing them with a paste like material taken from Kathazhai - a plant with big thorns all over. This plant is used for fencing the fields. White portion of the egg and gum crystals are added to the mixture. Of course, any colour can be added to make the manja threads attractive. Manja thus prepared smeared on white thread and allowed to dry in sun light. When completely dried, the thread will be rubbed with a piece of cloth, to make it smooth, so that it will not hurt the fingers while flying kites. The dried manja thread will be rolled on a small wooden apparatus called "Lottai".
Lottai is a very handy tool used in the sport. It is made of two roundly cut ply-wood sheets with some six holes uniformly spaced with one another. Another hole in the centre of the sheet is also made. Circular shaped wooden sticks of four to five inches length fixed to the ply-wood sheets. One more stick longer than the sticks already fixed will be fixed to the hole in the middle in such a way the ends of the stick protrude on either sides equally. Protruding portion of the lottai used for rolling the thread fast.
A person by name KARIM in old market was famous for making kites and manja threads. His kites and threads were in great demand. The kite lovers from city area used to come to him. Especially the threads prepared by him called " Karim manja".
When season reaches peak, lot of competitions will be held with bettings. The present Bangalore Football Stadium will be the venue for the competition, the place was an open play ground. All kite flyers used to arrive at the venue with loads of threads and kites. Famous Karim used to be the star attraction with heavy stakes on his kites. Kites with different colours and sizes all over the sky will be a wonderful sight.
While the competition picks-up, a group of youngsters with cycles watching the competition from Brigade Road and their job was to retrieve the "kati patang". All the actions, languages (mostly abusive), sometimes resulting in fights will be so amusing, they cannot be expressed in words.
