Unending rows and rows of kites in a variety of colours and designs line the shelves of ‘Patang’ shops in the city’s traditional markets.
With only a week until Sankranti, the festival synonymous with ‘Patangbazi’ in Hyderabad, traditional wholesale markets such as Gulzar Houz, Mangalhat, Moosa Bowli, and Dhoolpet are bustling with activity.
Unending rows and rows of kites in a variety of colours and designs line the shelves of ‘Patang’ shops in the city’s traditional markets. “As Sankranti approaches, we anticipate doing more business this year. Currently, a large number of retail kite traders are visiting our stores to make purchases. In the coming days, however, groups of young people who enjoy Patang Bazi during Sankranti will begin crowding the shops,” says Arvind Singh, a Dhoolpet trader.
The kite business in Hyderabad has suffered greatly in the last three years as a result of the Covid pandemic. Traders are anticipating a good year now that the Covid pandemic has passed.
“There was no business during Covid peak. As a result, almost all kite traders have reported significant financial losses over the last two to three years. “Things are back to normal now, and we’re looking forward to doing well,” says Mohit Singh, another trader.
Many Dhoolpet families make paper kites for a living, and a few varieties are imported from elsewhere. The traders provide the paper and bamboo sticks to the craftsmen, who make kites in their homes and deliver the finished product to the traders.
Traditional kites such as the Dulhan patang, Ek kalam, Doh kalam, Anda patang, Zebiya, and others can be found at Gulzar Houz. “Kites are usually named after the design. “A kite with two egg-shaped papers affixed to it is known as ‘Anda Patang,’ while a well-decorated kite is known as Dulhan Patang, and so on,” explained Shoieb, a trader at Gulzar Houz. Kite prices, according to traders, do not differ significantly.
